8/26/2013 The purpose of this presentation • Relate to you insights about avocado breeding Comments pertaining to • Provide another perspective regarding Avocado Plant Breeding Strategy the recommendation to “ramp down” 2013‐2033 DRAFT the scion breeding program 1 2 Why am I giving this presentation? • I have participated with the CA avocado industry for the last 38 years and I can bring a historical perspective to the debate on breeding. WHY DO WE NEED TO CONTINUE • I have been active in the effort to develop new DEVELOPING NEW ROOTSTOCKS AND varieties and rootstocks during much of this time VARIETIES FOR CALIFORNIA? • I have provided in the Board packet, a collection of comments from international scientists which help me substantiate my message 3 4 1
8/26/2013 The California avocado grower faces Rootstocks many challenges Clonal Dusa for example is a superior rootstock • High cost of land • It provides good protection against root rot • Expensive water • It has reasonable tolerance to certain damaging salts and • Poor quality water especially when groundwater is chlorides (no data available). used BUT Dusa does NOT address all of our needs in a rootstock • Wide tree spacing – necessitating tall trees to get acceptable production • high levels of salinity • Tall trees on hillsides are difficult to harvest • the need for smaller trees for hillside planting and easy • Tall trees require experienced and expensive pickers harvest which are becoming a scarce commodity • water logging due to poor irrigation practices and soils • Mediocre to low production in most years types that don’t drain well • Most important – Hass is susceptible to stress (heat, There is a need to continue the development of a well tested drought, salinity) and tends to alternate bear 5 6 selection of rootstocks that are adapted to varying growing • Competition from imported Hass conditions Varieties • The avocado is a wonderful and versatile fruit; it is great tasting and is very nutritious, it enhances health and has medicinal applications with many yet to be discovered • However, AVOCADO does not equal HASS, but unfortunately Hass has evolved to become the world’s avocado industry’s single commercial variety AVOCADO GENETIC RESOURCES • The dependence on Hass has potential serious future implications to the CA grower in maintaining a premium identity in the marketplace • Mexico and Peru can only ship Hass into the US • Likely same restriction will apply to South Africa and Colombia unless a major risk assessment is conducted for other varieties • California growers have an opportunity to differentiate themselves by marketing • existing varieties that few other countries can ship into the US (i.e., New Zealand, Chile) 7 8 • unique new fruit varieties that no one else has 2
8/26/2013 “Modern” Genetic Tools and Classical Why consider germplasm conservation Breeding Tremendous diversity among avocado varieties • Cold/heat tolerance, pest/disease tolerance, wind • The best deployment of genetic tools is in tolerance, narrow/spreading trees, peel thickness and conjunction with classical breeding approach color . . . etc. • There are tools available to ascertain the • Tree vigor and alternate bearing tendency presence/absence of traits at the seedling stage • Postharvest quality and ease of handling without growing the tree to maturity The CA industry by virtue of its 110 year history has at UC South Coast REC in Irvine • A large collection of diverse germplasm Successfully utilizing these genetic tools depends • A collection of avocado relatives adding to the genetic on knowledge of the genome of the species diversity at or disposal This is where germplasm conservation comes in ‐ 9 10 PRESERVE THE DIVERSITY FOR FUTURE USE Avocado genome • A Mexican criollo avocado has been sequenced – research funded by Mexican government and APEAM; >$5 million dollars and several years • Project completed but information not yet SUMMARY OF COMMENTS RECEIVED released to the public domain and release not certain • To make use of genetic tools we need to have this information • A consortium is being created to sequence and assemble the genome and place in public domain 11 12 3
8/26/2013 Regarding “ramping down” new variety Contacted several respected members of the development international avocado community representing both industry and research The message of the comments: Industry Related Research Andre Ernst , Allesbeste Nursery, South Jose Chaparro , University of Florida Africa Inaki Hormaza , IHSM La Mayora, Spain If you don’t know history, your are Stefan Kohne , Westfalia Technological Vered Irihimovitch , ARO, Israel Services, South Africa doomed to repeat it: Emi Lahav , ARO, Israel Zelda Van Rooyen , Westfalia Uri Lavi , ARO, Israel Technological Services, South Africa Don’t put all our eggs in one basket – Neena Mitter , QAAFI, Australia Fernando Pliego Alfaro , University of spread the risk around Malaga, Spain Alon Samach , Hebrew University, Israel 13 14 Regarding “ramping down” new variety Regarding “ramping down” new variety development development the CA avocado industry is on course to repeat the mistakes of the apple The short term objective of diversification is good. However, it is narrow growers with Red Delicious and the citrus growers with Sunburst minded (short sighted) to think that the existing varieties will fulfill all mandarin. The growers were happy with those varieties until someone the needs that will arise over time. In time, flaws will be detected in overseas bred a better variety and theirs was obsolete. ‐ J. Chaparro these varieties and replacement cultivars will be needed to fill the vacuum. These flaws can be traits that were overlooked, changes in By abandoning the present scion breeding program without putting a consumer preference, or susceptibility to new pathogen strains or insects. successful alternative in place might have a serious effect on the Regardless, it is essential that the scion breeding program be continued to competitiveness of the Californian Avocado industry in its own market in provide a source of new and improved cultivars. – J. Chaparro future . – A. Ernst If you don't do it someone else will, and you will lose market leadership . – analysis of where the California avocado industry should be in 10 ‐ 20 years, J. Chaparro especially in a document entitled strategy 2013 ‐ 2033. What will be its I think that a breeding program needs to be continued but clearly it should niche? Will it make sense to produce Hass or Hass ‐ like varieties to be led by someone young with a lot of energy and ability to focus on an compete with other avocado producing countries in Central and South objective and not get lost in piles of numbers. – A. Samach America with lower production costs or the future of the industry in 15 16 California should be linked to develop a different variety focused on the local US market ? ‐ I. Hormaza 4
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