Work

Development of Molecular Tools to Identify the Avocado (Persea americana) West-Indian Horticultural Race and Its Hybrids

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is cultivated in a wide range of environments, from tropical and semitropical to subtropical regions. Its fruit, of high nutritional value, is increasingly demanded worldwide. Spain is the main European producer, but avocado cultivation in certain areas, such as the Canary Islands, requires the genetic identification of West-Indian rootstocks because they often show tolerance to low-quality water and soil salinization. In the present study, eight novel Retrotransposon-Based Insertion Polymorphism assays, derived from previously characterized inter-Primer Binding Site markers, have been developed and evaluated by multiplex PCR across 58 P. americana cultivars. The results showed 100% specificity and sensitivity in detecting the West-Indian genomic component, both in pure and hybrid avocado cultivars. This cost-effective and fast molecular tool provides a valuable resource for characterization and selection programs of avocado cultivars genetically related to the West-Indian horticultural race.

Source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/ijms262311510

Authors: Mario González Carracedo, Samuel Bello Alonso, Anselmo Ramos Luis, Ainhoa Escuela Escobar, David Jiménez Arias, José Antonio Pérez Pérez

Institutions: Universidad de La Laguna, Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología

Language: English

Topic: Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499