ABOUT AVOCADO

Avocado, usually spreading but sometimes distinctly vertical, evergreen 6-20 m.  It is a tall tree.

Avocado fruit is superior to many fruit types in terms of fat content, calories per kg and protein.  shows. Its calorie value is 3 times that of a banana and 1-1.5 times that of a steak. It contains 1-2% protein, 10-17% fat, 1.5-2.0% total sugar and 80% water. Although it has a high fat content, it is easy to digest because it contains more unsaturated fatty acids and has a lowering effect on the cholesterol level in the blood. In addition, it contains 11 different vitamins (such as A, B, C and E) and 14 different mineral substances (such as iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc). It is an important food source for the local people where it grows naturally and is called "the poor's butter".

Small, green-yellow flowers form at the ends of the panicles. Each flower has 3 petals and sepals, 1 female organ and 12 stamens, 9 of which are functional and 3 of which are sterile, arranged in 2 rows. There is a pair of nectar (honey extract) sacs at the bottom of the male organs in the inner row. A fully opened avocado flower  1 cm  6-7mm wide  is long.  

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Avocado fruits come in different shapes, colors and sizes. Fruit size 200-600 grams  varies between The fruits can be round, oval or pear-shaped. The color of the bark varies from light yellowish green to dark green, from chestnut brown to purple black. The shell surface may be smooth or rough. The flesh is light yellow - cream colored and greenish towards the skin. Fruit flesh contains a high amount of fat. Each fruit has a single seed.

The fertilization biology of avocado is quite different from that of many other fruit species. Although avocado flowers have both male and female organs, these organs do not function at the same time.  Flowers show a bisexual opening pattern. Each flower is in the female stage when it first opens. At this stage, the female organ accepts pollen from other flowers, the male organs do not scatter pollen. This phase is called the "Female Phase". Then the flower closes, stays closed at night, and the same flower opens again the next day. In this opening, while the male organs scatter pollen, the female organ is no longer accepting. The tooth apex may have darkened and started to dry out. This phase is also called the "Male Phase". This state of the avocado flower is scientifically called "Synchronous Dicogamy". That is, the maturation of male and female organs occurs at different times, but at the same time of the day.

Site selection should be made considering the climate and soil conditions desired by the avocados. If the place where the avocado garden will be established is not naturally protected from the winds, a windbreak plant is absolutely necessary.

In addition, the soil structure of the garden area was examined and the structure status was determined at 1.5-2 m.  the presence of impermeable, clayey and hard layers to the depth and the ground water level should be determined. In places with ground water higher than 1.5-2 m, the ground water level should be lowered by making closed and open drainage.

Soil preparation is made according to the land, slope status and irrigation systems to be applied. Necessary leveling and terracing operations regarding the slope condition must be completed before planting.

Avocado tree is very sensitive to wind due to its brittle structure. In strong winds, large branch breaks occur. For this reason, a windbreak facility is required in aquaculture in areas open to the wind. Windbreaks should be installed as far as possible before the garden is established.

Since there are differences between avocado varieties in terms of resistance to cold, the climatic characteristics of the place where the garden will be established should be considered in the selection of the variety. In addition, pollination of varieties, harvest season, suitability for transportation and commercial value are taken into account.

The planting interval to be given to avocados varies according to the variety, soil structure, cultural practices and the quality of the sapling. However, planting spacing of 7x7 m., 6x6 m or less can be given. In order to get more yield, trees should be kept under control by pruning when planting frequently.

Before planting, the main line is drawn from the smooth and long side of the land, at least half the spacing and distance to be given. Then a second line is drawn perpendicular to the main line and the planting intervals determined on these lines are marked. Then, with the prepared planting board, other planting places are marked and triplets are made with the planting board.

Planting pits should be at least according to the texture and depth of the soil.  60 cm  opens in depth. Top soil is mixed with burnt barn manure and filled into the pit. If possible, marking the planting sites and opening the planting pits should be done in the autumn before planting.

Avocado seedlings are usually planted in the spring. Planting should be done in March or mid-April, when the danger of cold is over. Autumn planting can also be done in places where there is no danger of frost.

Avakoda seedlings are usually grown in polyethylene bags. During planting, the bag is cut and removed, if there are curled roots, they are cleaned with scissors, the seedlings are placed in the pit without dispersing the soil. Planting pruning that balances the root with the crown must be done. Planting level, subsoil level of the seedling, 3-5 cm above the ground level  is set on. Deep planting should be avoided. After planting, saplings are given life water and they are planted.

Since avocado seedlings are grown in a semi-shade environment, the seedlings must be protected against sunburn after planting. In the first years, lath, pike, palm branch, shade cloth etc. around the sapling. Shading with materials will protect the seedlings from sunburn in summer, low temperatures and frost in winter. If a canopy cannot be built around the sapling, at least the trunk should be covered with waterproof paper, etc. Wrapping it with a material such as sunburn will be sufficient to protect the sapling against sunburn.

Weeds that hinder growth around young avocado trees need to be removed frequently. The weeds that come out after every two irrigation are cleaned with a hoe.

Open and covered tillage is appropriate in productive gardens. In the summer, the garden is kept clean by processing. In winter, cover crops such as legumes can be kept.

Deep tillage should be avoided in avocado orchards, as in citrus fruits. In summer, when the soil pan comes after every 2 irrigation, weeds are mixed into the soil with tools such as tapestry disc, disc harrow, rotovator and crow's feet. In addition, the use of herbicides can be preferred in terms of reducing root injuries caused by tillage.

Avocado seedlings should be fertilized as soon as they start to develop after planting. Nitrogen fertilizers are the most commonly used fertilizers in avocado cultivation. Nitrogen fertilization in young trees should be done in increasing amounts and carefully every year. Fertilizers should not come into contact with the trunk of young trees, 20-50 cm from the trunk.  should be given to the projection of the crown at a distance. Each fertilizer application should be followed by a small and controlled irrigation.

Nitrogen demand is highest in fruitful trees during flowering and fruit set. All of the nitrogen fertilizer can be given in February with the rains, or it can be given 2-3 times in the February-May-June period.

Phosphorus and potash fertilizers are not necessary in the first years. Starting from the 4th year, these fertilizers will be applied as triple super phosphate and potassium sulphate to the tree crown projection 10-15 cm.  It can be given to the deep band and closed, or it can be given to 4-6 hearths to be opened within the projection of the crown.

Application time is October-November.

In addition, in order to improve the physical and chemical structure of the soil, 2-3 tons of barnyard manure should be applied per decare every 3-4 years.

The best way to determine the amount of fertilizer to be given to trees is to fertilize according to leaf and soil analysis. Leaf samples were taken from 4 different directions of the tree, 1.5-2 m.  height, from the 5-7 month old fruitless spring shoots of that year, in mid-August to mid-October. It is sufficient to take 60-80 leaves from an area of 5 decares. It is useful to conduct a soil analysis before planting. According to the structure of the soil, a sample should be taken to represent the garden and analysis should be done.

In the first years in avocado orchards, irrigation is done by giving water to the bowls made for each sapling or the furrows that contain the saplings. Depending on the climate and soil structure, the seedlings should be watered every 7-10 days to wet the root zone, and excessive irrigation should be avoided.

With the trees starting to yield, generally the pan and furrow irrigation method is applied. In some commercial avocado orchards established in recent years, modern irrigation systems such as drip irrigation or mini-sprink irrigation methods have been started to be applied. These systems have many advantages. It also allows the application of fertilizer to the trees along with irrigation. Irrigation start and end dates are adjusted according to the start and end dates of the rains.

Avocados need water the most in July-August. If they are left without water during these months, severe fruit shedding will occur.

Generally, a systematic pruning method is not followed for avocados. In order to ensure a balanced crown development in the first few years, this tendency should be broken by cutting or cutting the shoot tips, especially in vertically growing varieties. Young trees require less pruning, except for cutting the crown.

Fruitful trees are also pruned; It is applied to carry out cultural operations more easily and with less cost, to clean dry and gluttonous branches, to reduce severe periodicity (trees give little or no product the next year), to facilitate harvesting, to prevent branch breakage and to keep tree height under constant control. .

2-3 cm in pruned branches  Vaccine paste should be applied to the cuts thicker than The best time for pruning is February, when growth has not yet begun.

Although many diseases and pests are seen in the regions where avocado is grown in the world, relatively few diseases and pests are seen in our country since it is a new product. The necessary fight against these diseases and pests should be done in consultation with experts.

Some avocado varieties can bloom and set fruit from the second year. Removing these flowers will be beneficial for the stronger development of the sapling.

Avocado fruits ripen at different times depending on the variety. The most important measure in determining the maturity is the oil rate in the fruit. Determination of the fat ratio can be done in the laboratory. In some countries, the lowest oil rate in the fruits to be harvested was determined as 8%.

In recent years, total dry weight or water content of the fruit has been the most emphasized criterion as an easy, economical and practical method for determining fruit maturity. In studies conducted in our country, it has been determined that 21% dry weight can be accepted as the minimum maturity standard.

Determination of skin maturity can also be determined by looking at the external appearance of the fruit. In purple-colored fruits, when the color starts to turn from green to purple; On the other hand, in green colored fruits, it can be accepted that the fruits have reached maturity when the color of the crust becomes yellowish and the brightness decreases.

In addition, the color of the seed coat and the decrease in the attachment of the seed to the fruit flesh in some varieties are also signs of maturity. As the fruit matures, the color of the seed coat changes from yellowish white to brown and is easily separated from the seed.

Fruits can remain on the tree for a long time after reaching harvest. They soften only after they are collected. An immature fruit, on the other hand, shrivels and does not soften.

Fruits at harvest should be cut off with stems, then the stems should be shortened with fruit scissors. If the fruit is plucked without a stem, there will be rot at the breaking point.

Care should be taken to avoid damage to the fruit. The collected fruits are taken to a shaded place in the garden, then the fruits are packed in containers that cannot be bruised. Since there is not a large amount of avocado production in our country yet, packaging house applications such as selection, sorting, packaging, which are required for distant markets and export, are not carried out. However, the fruits that will go to distant markets should preferably be between 270-330 gr and should not have any signs of rot, injury or crushing. Fruits with these characteristics are preferably packed in cardboard boxes in a single row. In general, 12, 15, 18 or 21 fruits can be placed in packaging containers.

Fruits in 6-12 days at normal room temperature,  5°C  It softens in 30-40 days. Although the storage temperature varies according to the varieties, it is 4-7°C.  can be specified. Cold damage occurs in fruits kept at lower temperatures. The relative humidity of the warehouse should be 85-90%. The longest storage period is 2 months.

DISEASES AND PESTS

Although many diseases and pests are seen in the regions where avocado is grown in the world, relatively less diseases and pests are seen in our country since it is a new product. The necessary fight against these diseases and pests should be done in consultation with experts.