Mineral nutrition for avocado fruit quality – a brief review and recommendations

Abstract

Irregular avocado fruit quality to consumers is generally problematic in the avocado industry. Better understanding the role of mineral nutrition in determining fruit quality, including robustness at harvest to tolerate subsequent supply chain rigours, offers opportunity for improvements. Based on a review of the scientific and technical literature as commissioned for the industry in Australia, plant nutrition recommendations that might be integrated towards fruit quality improvement were identified. They include providing adequate Ca to trees during flowering, fruit set and early development; conducting fruit tissue analysis as a reliable indicator of fruit Ca concentrations; ensuring leaf nutrient concentrations for N and K do not exceed the optimum range; delaying K application until late stages of fruit development and application only if needed; achieving a good balance between vegetative growth and crop load; and selecting appropriate rootstocks for new plantings. The rationale for these recommendations is briefly discussed along with priorities for future research to underpin avocado fruit robustness at harvest and in-market quality to consumers. © 2022 International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved.