Tag: Plant Health
Proximity to natural habitat enhances flower visitor diversity and pollination services in avocado orchards
Insect pollination is known to increase avocado yields, with wild pollinators likely playing an important role. In central Chile, the rapid expansion of avocado orchards has resulted in highly diverse natural habitats being replaced by plantations, potentially negatively impacting wild pollinators and thus avocado production. This study aimed to understand the role of natural habitats and wild pollinators in avocado production by (1) exploring the relationship between flower visitor abundance and
Different soil sampling designs influence the diversity and drivers of the avocado rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities
The variability of the rhizosphere microbial community has not been well-studied in avocado plantations at the field-scale. This research aimed to determine if the bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere and/or the soil physicochemical properties from two commercial avocado orchards varied with different sampling designs (grid-based, longitudinal transect, and zigzag transect), and in turn if this changed the soil physicochemical properties driving the composition of the microbial communities.
Fungal dynamics and biocontrol potential in Fusarium-induced avocado root rot soil
PURPOSE: Fusarium-induced root rot poses a significant threat to avocado production, yet the mechanisms linking fungal community dynamics and biocontrol potential in affected soils remain unclear. This study aimed to compare fungal community composition, diversity, enzyme activities, and potential biocontrol agents in healthy and diseased avocado soils. METHODS: We employed high-throughput sequencing, quantitative PCR, soil physicochemical and enzymatic analyses—including β-glucosidase, urease,
Diversity of Culturable Endophytic Fungi Associated with Avocado Orchards Under Organic and Conventional Management
Endophytic fungi constitute a great resource for the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices. However, their diversity may be altered by agrochemicals used in conventionally managed agrosystems. Here we explored the culturable diversity of endophytic fungi associated with avocado (Persea americana Mill.) in conventional and organic orchards from three counties of the world’s leading productive region. In total, 529 endophytic fungal isolates were obtained from branches and roots of
Osmolyte Regulation as an Avocado Crop Management Strategy for Improving Productivity Under High Temperatures
Climate change worsens abiotic stresses, primarily due to high temperatures, which have a negative impact on avocado productivity, leading to reduced crop yields, affecting fruit set and abscission. To tackle these challenges, antioxidants such as glycine, choline, and proline can enhance plant tolerance to these stressors and minimize plant cell damage. This work aimed to use these antioxidants to improve avocado commercial yield and quality under challenging environmental conditions. This study
Physiological Response to Foliar Application of Antitranspirant on Avocado Trees (Persea americana) in a Mediterranean Environment
Background: The implementation of advanced agronomical strategies, including the use of antitranspirant, in order to mitigate the negative effects of environmental stress, particularly heat stress on plants, has become a focal area of research in the Mediterranean basin. This region is characterized by hot and dry summer that affects plant physiology. Methods: The experiment was carried out in Sicily (South Italy) on 12-year-old avocado cv. Hass grafted onto Walter Hole rootstock. Two subplots each