Avocado
Avocado fruit and foliage, Huntington Library, California
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Laurales Family: Lauraceae Genus: Persea Species: P. The Huntington Library Art Collections and Botanical Gardens (or The Huntington) is an educational and research institution established by Henry E Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Dicotyledons, or "dicots", is a name for a group of Flowering plants whose Seed typically has two embryonic leaves or Cotyledons There The Laurales are an order of Flowering plants They are a basal group of Dicots related to and formerly sometimes included in the Magnoliales. The Lauraceae or Laurel family comprises a group of Flowering plants included in the order Laurales. Persea is a Genus of about 150 species of Evergreen Trees belonging to the laurel family Lauraceae. americana
Binomial name
Persea americana Mill.

The avocado (Persea americana, also known as the avocado, butter or alligator pear) is a tree native to Mexico, Central and South America, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae. Philip Miller ( 1691 - 18 December 1771) was a botanist of Scottish descent A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group The Lauraceae or Laurel family comprises a group of Flowering plants included in the order Laurales. The name "avocado" also refers to the fruit (technically a berry) of the tree that contains an egg-shaped pit. The word berry has two meanings one based on a botanical definition the other on common identification Avocado trees were cultivated in pre-Incan settlements with archeological evidence dating to 750 B. C.

Avocados are a commercially valuable crop whose trees and fruit are cultivated in tropical climates throughout the world, producing a green-skinned, pear-shaped fruit that ripens after harvesting. Trees are partially self-pollinating and often are propogated through grafting to maintain a predictable quality and quantity of the fruit. Self-pollination is a form of Pollination that can occur when a Flower has both Stamen and a Carpel in which the Cultivar or Plant propagation is the process of artificially or naturally propagating (distributing or spreading Plants Sexual propagation (seed See also Grafting is a method of asexual Plant propagation widely used in Agriculture and Horticulture where the tissues of one Plant are encouraged to

Avocado fruits have a smooth, creamy, greenish-yellow flesh with an unusually high amount of fat that is primarily monounsaturated. For discussion how dietary fats affect cardiovascular health see Diet and heart disease. They also contain a high concentration of dietary fiber, vitamins and potassium. Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. A vitamin is an Organic compound required as a Nutrient in tiny amounts by an Organism. Potassium (pəˈtæsiəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol K (kalium from qalīy Atomic number 19 and Atomic mass 39 The pit, seed, leaves, bark and in some cases fruit can be toxic to some animals, particularly birds, though much less so in humans; the toxicity of the fruit may be an adaptation that assisted seed dispersal by Pleistocene megafauna. Biological dispersal refers to those processes by which a Species maintains ecosystem Pleistocene megafauna is the set of Species of large animals &mdash Mammals Birds and Reptiles &mdash that lived on Earth during the Pleistocene

Contents 1 History 1.1 Etymology 2 Cultivation 2.1 Harvest and post-harvest 2.2 Breeding 2.3 Propagation and rootstocks 2.4 Diseases 2.5 Cultivation in California 2.5.1 Hass cultivar 2.6 Other cultivars 2.7 Avocado-related trade war 3 Uses 3.1 Nutritional value 3.2 As a houseplant 4 Toxicity to animals 5 Co-evolution 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

History

P. americana has a long history of being cultivated in Central and South America; a water jar shaped like an avocado, dating to A. D. 900, was discovered in the pre-Incan city of Chan Chan^[1] though there is evidence of cultivation in Mexico for as long as 10,000 years. for other uses see Chan Chan (disambiguation The largest Pre-Columbian city in South America, Chan Chan is an archaeological ^[2] The earliest known written account of the avocado in Europe is that of Martín Fernández de Enciso (c. Martín Fernández de Enciso (c 1470 - 1528 was a navigator and geographer who was instrumental in colonising the Isthmus of Darien. 1470–c. 1528) in 1518 or 1519 in his book, Suma de Geografía que Trata de Todas las Partidas y Provincias del Mundo. ^[2][3] The first written record in English of the use of the word 'avocado' was by Hans Sloane in a 1696 index of Jamaican plants. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Sir Hans Sloane 1st Baronet, PRS ( 16 April, 1660 &ndash 11 January, 1753) was an Ulster-Scot Physician and Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. The plant was introduced to Indonesia by 1750, Brazil in 1809, the Levant in 1908, and South Africa and Australia in the late 19th century. The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. Year 1750 ( MDCCL) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Year 1809 ( MDCCCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year See also Names of the Levant The Levant (lə'vænt is a geographical term that denotes a large area in Western Asia, roughly bounded on the north by the Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. ^[2]

Etymology

The word "avocado" comes from the Nahuatl word ahuakatl (testicle, a reference to the shape of the fruit). Nahuatl ( is a group of related languages and dialects of the Aztecan or Nahuan branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family ^[4] Historically avocados had a long-standing stigma as a sexual stimulant and were not purchased or consumed by any person wishing to preserve a chaste image. Avocados were known by the Aztecs as "the fertility fruit". ^[3] In some countries of South America such as Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay, the avocado is known by its Quechua name, palta. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America Quechua ( Runa Simi) is a Native American language of South America. In other Spanish-speaking countries it is called aguacate, and in Portuguese it is abacate. The fruit is sometimes called a butter pear, avocado pear and alligator pear (pear due to its shape, and alligator due to the rough green skin of some cultivars). A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar The Nahuatl ahuacatl can be compounded with other words, as in ahuacamolli, meaning "avocado soup or sauce", from which the Mexican Spanish word guacamole derives. Mexican Spanish ( español mexicano in Spanish is the Spanish language as it is spoken in Mexico. Guacamole (called guacamol in Central America and Cuba) is an Avocado -based Relish or dip.

Cultivation

Food and agriculture
Avocado fruit (cv. 'Fuerte'); left: whole, right: in section
Country	Quantity (Tm)	World Rank1
Mexico	1,040,390	1
Indonesia	263,575	2
United States of America	214,000	3
Colombia	185,811	4
Brazil	185,811	5
Chile	163,000	6
Dominican Republic	140,000	7
Peru	102,000	8
China	85,000	9
Ethiopia	81,500	10
1Source: FAO (2004) Major Producers of Avocado

The tree grows to 20 metres (65 ft), with alternately arranged leaves 12–25 centimetres long. This article is about the tonne or metric ton For other tons see Ton. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish-yellow, 5–10 millimetres wide. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also The pear-shaped fruit is 7 to 20 centimetres long, weighs between 100 and 1000 grams, and has a large central seed, 5 - 6. A pear is a pomaceous Fruit produced by a tree of Genus Pyrus. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored 4 centimeters long. ^[5] It is considered by many to be a drupe, but is botanically classified as a berry. In Botany, a drupe is a Fruit in which an outer fleshy part ( Exocarp, or skin and Mesocarp, or flesh surrounds a shell (the pit The word berry has two meanings one based on a botanical definition the other on common identification ^[6][7]

The subtropical species needs a climate without frost and with little wind. The subtropics are the zones of the Earth immediately north and south of the tropic zone which is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of High winds reduce the humidity, dehydrate the flowers, and affect pollination. In particular, the West Indian race requires humidity and a tropical climate which is important in flowering. When even a mild frost occurs, some fruit may drop from the tree, reducing the yield, although the Hass cultivar can tolerate temperatures down to −1°C. A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. The trees also need well aerated soils, ideally more than 1 m deep. Yield is reduced when the irrigation water is highly saline. Salinity is the Saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of Water. These soil and climate conditions are provided only in a few areas of the world, particularly in southern Spain, the Levant, South Africa, Peru, parts of central and northern Chile, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the Philippines, Malaysia, Mexico and Central America, the center of origin and diversity of this species. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. See also Names of the Levant The Levant (lə'vænt is a geographical term that denotes a large area in Western Asia, roughly bounded on the north by the The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Each region has different types of cultivars. Mexico is the largest producer of the Hass variety, with over 1 million tonnes produced annually.

Harvest and post-harvest

An average avocado tree produces about 120 avocados annually. Commercial orchards produce an average of 7 tonnes per hectare each year, with some orchards achieving 20 tonnes per hectare. This article is about the tonne or metric ton For other tons see Ton. Explanation The hectare is commonly used in most countries around the world especially in domains concerned with land planning and management such as Agriculture, ^[8] Biennial bearing can be a problem, with heavy crops in one year being followed by poor yields the next. Biennial bearing (or alternate bearing is a term used in Pomology to refer to trees that have an irregular crop load from year to year The avocado tree does not tolerate freezing temperatures, and can be grown only in subtropical or tropical climates.

The avocado is a climacteric fruit (the banana is another), which means that it matures on the tree but ripens off the tree. For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation. Avocados used in commerce are picked hard and green and kept in coolers at 38 to 42°F (3. 3 to 5. 6°C) until they reach their final destination. Avocado must be mature to ripen properly. Avocados that fall off the tree ripen on the ground, and depending on the amount of oil they contain, their taste and texture may vary greatly. Generally, the fruit is picked once it reaches maturity; Mexican growers pick Hass-variety avocados when they have more than 23% dry matter and other producing countries have similar standards. Once picked, avocados ripen in a few days at room temperature (faster if stored with other fruits such as bananas, because of the influence of ethylene gas). Room temperature (also referred to as ambient temperature) is a common term to denote a certain Temperature within enclosed space at which humans are accustomed For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation. Structure This Hydrocarbon has four Hydrogen Atoms bound to a pair of Carbon atoms that are connected by a Double bond. Premium supermarkets sell pre-ripened avocados treated with synthetic ethylene to hasten the ripening process. Customer divider barjpg|thumb|In supermarkets sellers periodically change prices for classes of goods in response to market conditions rather than negotiating the price of each good Structure This Hydrocarbon has four Hydrogen Atoms bound to a pair of Carbon atoms that are connected by a Double bond. ^[9] In some cases, avocados can be left on the tree for several months, which is an advantage to commercial growers who seek the greatest return for their crop; if the fruit remains unpicked for too long, however, it will fall to the ground.

Breeding

The species is only partially able to self-pollinate, because of dichogamy in its flowering. Self-pollination is a form of Pollination that can occur when a Flower has both Stamen and a Carpel in which the Cultivar or Dichogamy is the separation in time of gender expression in a hermaphroditic organism a characteristic of some Fishes, Gastropods, and most Flowering plants This limitation, added to the long juvenile period, makes the species difficult to breed. Most cultivars are propagated via grafting, having originated from random seedling plants or minor mutations derived from cultivars. Grafting is a method of asexual Plant propagation widely used in Agriculture and Horticulture where the tissues of one Plant are encouraged to In biology mutations are changes to the Nucleotide sequence of the Genetic material of an organism Modern breeding programs tend to use isolation plots where the chances of cross-pollination are reduced. Pollination in angiosperms and Gymnosperms is the process that transfers pollen grains, which contain the male Gametes (sperm to where the female That is the case for programs at the University of California, Riverside, as well as the Volcani Centre and the Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias in Chile. The University of California Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public Research university and one of the 10 general Agricultural research in Israel started around 1921 in the Agricultural Experiment Station which since then developed into a major agricultural research center - the Agricultural Research Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the

The avocado is unusual in that the timing of the male and female flower phases differs among cultivars. There are two flowering types, "A" and "B". "A" cultivar flowers open as female on the morning of the first day and close in late morning or early afternoon. Then they open as male in the afternoon of the second day. "B" varieties open as female on the afternoon of the first day, close in late afternoon and reopen as male the following morning.

"A" cultivars: Hass, Gwen, Lamb Hass, Pinkerton, Reed.

"B" cultivars: Fuerte, Sharwil, Zutano, Bacon, Ettinger, Sir Prize, Walter Hole. ^[10][11]

Certain cultivars, such as the Hass, have a tendency to bear well only in alternate years. After a season with a low yield, due to factors such as cold (which the avocado does not tolerate well), the trees tend to produce abundantly the next season. This heavy crop depletes stored carbohydrates, resulting in a reduced yield the following season, and thus the alternate bearing pattern becomes established.

Propagation and rootstocks

While an avocado propagated by seed can bear fruit, it takes roughly 4–6 years to do so, and the offspring is unlikely to resemble the parent cultivar in fruit quality. Thus, commercial orchards are planted using grafted trees and rootstocks. Grafting is a method of asexual Plant propagation widely used in Agriculture and Horticulture where the tissues of one Plant are encouraged to A rootstock is a Plant, and sometimes just the Stump, which already has an established healthy root system, used for Grafting a cutting or Rootstocks are propagated by seed (seedling rootstocks) and also layering (clonal rootstocks). Layering is a means of Plant propagation in which a portion of an aerial stem grow Roots while still attached to the parent plant and then detaches as an After about a year of growing the young plants in a greenhouse, they are ready to be grafted. Terminal and lateral grafting is normally used. The scion cultivar will then grow for another 6–12 months before the tree is ready to be sold. Clonal rootstocks have been selected for specific soil and disease conditions, such as poor soil aeration or resistance to the soil-borne disease caused by phytophthora (root rot). Phytophthora (from Greek phytón “plant” and phthorá “destruction” “the plant-destroyer” is a Genus of plant-damaging Protists

Diseases

Main article: List of avocado diseases

Avocado trees are vulnerable to bacterial, viral, fungal and nutritional diseases (excesses and deficiencies of key minerals). This article is a list of diseases of Avocadoes ( Persea americana) The Bacteria ( singular: bacterium) are a large group of unicellular Microorganisms Typically a few Micrometres in length bacteria have A virus (from the Latin virus meaning Toxin or Poison) is a sub-microscopic infectious agent that is unable A fungus (ˈfʌŋgəs is a eukaryotic Organism that is a member of the kingdom Fungi (ˈfʌndʒaɪ Disease can affect all parts of the plant, causing spotting, rotting, cankers, pitting and discoloration. ^[12]

Cultivation in California

The avocado was introduced to the U.S. state of California in the 19th century, and has become an extremely successful cash crop. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. In Agriculture, a cash crop is a crop which is grown for Money. Ninety-five percent of United States avocado production is located in southern California, with 60% in San Diego County. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. San Diego County is a County located on the Pacific Ocean in the far southwest of the U ^[13][14] Approximately 59,000 acres (approximately 24,000 hectares) of avocados are grown in California. Fallbrook, California, claims the title of "Avocado Capital of the World", and both Fallbrook and Carpinteria, California host annual avocado festivals. Fallbrook is a Census-designated place (CDP in northern San Diego County California. Carpinteria is a small oceanside city located in the southeastern extremity of Santa Barbara County California, east of Santa Barbara and northwest of Ventura

Hass cultivar

Main article: Hass avocado

While dozens of cultivars are grown in California, the Hass avocado (commonly misspelled "Haas") is the most common. A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar It produces fruit year-round and accounts for the majority of cultivated avocados in in California. ^[3] All Hass avocado trees are genic copies of a single "mother tree" that was raised by a mail carrier named Rudolph Hass. ^[2] According to Hass' family, Hass bought the seed from A. R. Rideout of Whittier, California, in 1926 and repeatedly attempted to graft productive branches onto pre-existing trees. Ultimately this succeeded in producing the Hass avocado, though the source tree of the graft is uncertain. Hass propagated the productive graft in his front yard in La Habra Heights, California, and patented the tree in 1935. A patent is a set of Exclusive rights granted by a State to an inventor or his assignee for a fixed period of time in exchange for a disclosure of an Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. All Hass avocados can be traced back to grafts made from the original, successful graft tree. The "mother tree" died of root rot and was cut down in September, 2002; its former location is indicated with a commemorative plaque. Root rot is a condition found in both indoor and outdoor plants although more common in indoor plants with poor drainage A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal ceramic stone wood or other material typically attached to a wall stone or other vertical surface and bearing ^[3]

Other cultivars

Other avocado cultivars include Bacon, Fuerte, Gwen, Pinkerton, Reed and Zutano. The fruit of the cultivar Florida, grown mostly outside California, is larger and rounder, with a smooth, medium-green skin, and a less-fatty, firmer and fibrous flesh. These are occasionally marketed as low-calorie avocados.

Avocado-related trade war

After the NAFTA treaty was signed, Mexico tried exporting avocados to the USA. The U. S. government resisted, claiming that the trade would introduce fruit flies that would destroy California's crops. The Mexican government responded by inviting U. S. Department of Agriculture inspectors to Mexico, but the U. S. government declined, claiming fruit fly inspection is not feasible. The Mexican government then proposed to sell avocados only to the northeastern U. S. in the winter (fruit flies cannot withstand extreme cold). The U. S. government balked, but gave in when the Mexican government started throwing up barriers to American corn. Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica

Legitimate pest invasion issues exist, as avocado pests originating in Mexico have made their way to California, including the persea mite and avocado thrips. These pests have increased pest control costs and made previously-relied-upon biological control less feasible. Biological control of pests in Agriculture is a method of controlling pests (including Insects Mites Weeds and plant diseases Other potentially disastrous pests, including a weevil, remain risks. Another argument is that the lower prices generated by the Mexican and Chilean imports would increase the popularity of avocados outside of California, thereby assuaging the loss of profits due to the new competition.

Today avocados from Mexico are allowed in all 50 states. This is because USDA inspectors in Uruapan, Michoacán (the state where 90% of Hass avocados from Mexico are grown), have cut open and inspected millions of fruit, finding no problems. Imports from Mexico in the 2005-2006 season exceeded 130,000 tonnes. This article is about the tonne or metric ton For other tons see Ton. ^[15]

Avocados are more expensive in the USA than in other countries, because those consumed in the USA are grown almost exclusively in California and Florida. California produces about 90% of the nation's avocado crop. ^[13]

Uses

Avocado, raw (edible parts) Nutritional value per 100 g (3. 5 oz)
Energy 160 kcal   670 kJ
Carbohydrates     8. Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most 53 g - Sugars  0. 66 g - Dietary fiber  6. Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. 7 g   Fat 14. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water 66 g - saturated  2. Saturated fat is Fat that consists of Triglycerides containing only saturated Fatty acids Explanation Fat that occurs 13 g - monounsaturated  9. For discussion how dietary fats affect cardiovascular health see Diet and heart disease. 80 g   - polyunsaturated  1. In nutrition polyunsaturated fat is an abbreviation of polyunsaturated Fatty acid. 82 g   Protein 2 g Thiamin (Vit. B1)  0. Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl For the similarly spelled pyrimidine see Thymine Thiamin or thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1 067 mg   5% Riboflavin (Vit. B2)  0. Riboflavin ( E101) also known as vitamin B2, is an easily absorbed Micronutrient with a key role in maintaining Health 130 mg   9% Niacin (Vit. B3)  1. Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin which prevents the deficiency disease Pellagra. 738 mg   12% Pantothenic acid (B5)  1. Pantothenic acid, also called Vitamin B5 (a B vitamin) is a water- Soluble vitamin required to sustain life ( 389 mg  28% Vitamin B6  0. Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble Vitamin. Pyridoxal phosphate (PLP is the active form and is a cofactor in many reactions of Amino acid metabolism including 257 mg 20% Folate (Vit. Folic acid (also known as Vitamin M and Folacin) and Folate (the Anionic form are forms of the water-soluble Vitamin B9 B9)  81 μg  20% Vitamin C  10 mg 17% Calcium  12 mg 1% Iron  0. Vitamin C or L-ascorbate is an Essential nutrient for a large number of higher primate species a small number of other Mammalian Calcium (ˈkælsiəm is the Chemical element with the symbol Ca and Atomic number 20 Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 55 mg 4% Magnesium  29 mg 8%  Phosphorus  52 mg 7% Potassium  485 mg   10% Zinc  0. Magnesium is an essential element in biological systems. Magnesium occurs typically as the Mg2+ ion Phosphorus, (ˈfɒsfərəs is the Chemical element that has the symbol P and Atomic number 15 Potassium (pəˈtæsiəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol K (kalium from qalīy Atomic number 19 and Atomic mass 39 Zinc (ˈzɪŋk from Zink is a Metallic Chemical element with the symbol Zn and Atomic number 30 64 mg 6%
Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. Reference Daily Intake (or Recommended Daily Intake ( RDI) is the daily dietary intake level of a nutrient which was considered (at the time they were defined to be sufficient Source: USDA Nutrient database

The fruit of horticultural cultivars ranges from more or less round to egg- or pear-shaped, typically the size of a temperate-zone pear or larger, on the outside bright green to green-brown (or almost black) in color. A pear is a pomaceous Fruit produced by a tree of Genus Pyrus. The fruit has a markedly higher fat content than most other fruit, mostly monounsaturated fat. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water For discussion how dietary fats affect cardiovascular health see Diet and heart disease. A ripe avocado will yield to a gentle pressure when held in the palm of the hand and squeezed. The flesh is typically greenish yellow to golden yellow when ripe. The flesh oxidizes and turns brown quickly after exposure to air. Beta oxidation is the process by which Fatty acids in the form of Acyl-CoA molecules are broken down in Mitochondria and/or in Peroxisomes to To prevent this, lime or lemon juice can be added to avocados after they are peeled. Lime is a term referring to a number of different fruits (generally Citruses, both Species and hybrids, which are typically round green to yellow The lemon ( Citrus × limon) is a hybrid in cultivated wild plants

The avocado is very popular in vegetarian cuisine, making an excellent substitute for meats in sandwiches and salads because of its high fat content. Vegetarian cuisine refers to Food that meets vegetarian standards by excluding Meat and animal tissue products Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water The fruit is not sweet, but fatty, distinctly yet subtly flavored, and of smooth, almost creamy texture. It is used as the base for the Mexican dip known as guacamole, as well as a filling for several kinds of sushi, including California rolls. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. A dip or dipping sauce is a common Condiment for many types of food Guacamole (called guacamol in Central America and Cuba) is an Avocado -based Relish or dip. In Japanese cuisine, is Vinegared Rice, usually topped with other ingredients including fish various meats and vegetables The California roll is a maki-zushi (roll, a kind of Sushi, usually made inside-out containing Cucumber, crab meat or imitation crab Avocado is popular in chicken dishes and as a spread on toast, served with salt and pepper. In Brazil and Vietnam, avocados are considered sweet fruits, so are frequently used for milk-shakes and occasionally added to ice cream and other desserts. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially Ice cream or ice-cream (originally iced cream) is a frozen dessert made from Dairy products such as Milk and Cream, combined In Brazil, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, a dessert drink is made with sugar, milk or water, and pureed avocado. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. Dessert is a course that typically comes at the end of a meal usually consisting of sweet Food but sometimes of a strongly-flavored one such as some Cheeses The Chocolate syrup is sometimes added. Chocolate syrup is a type of condiment that is usually added to food to increase the Chocolate flavor

In Central America, avocados are served mixed with white rice. In Chile its consumption is widespread and used as a puree in chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs, and in slices for celery or lettuce salads. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the A hamburger (or burger) is a Sandwich consisting of a cooked ground Meat Patty, usually Beef, placed in a sliced bun or between A hot dog is a type of fully-cooked cured and/or smoked moist Sausage of soft even texture and flavor See also Wild celery Apium graveolens is a plant species in the family Apiaceae, and yielding celery and Celeriac Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa) is a Temperate annual or Biennial plant of the daisy family Asteraceae. The Chilean version of caesar salad contains large slices of mature avocado. A typical Caesar Salad comprises Romaine lettuce and Croutons dressed with Parmesan cheese, Lemon juice Olive oil,

Nutritional value

A whole medium avocado contains approximately 21 grams of fat, though most of it is monounsaturated fat. For discussion how dietary fats affect cardiovascular health see Diet and heart disease. Avocados also have 60% more potassium than bananas. Potassium (pəˈtæsiəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol K (kalium from qalīy Atomic number 19 and Atomic mass 39 For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation. They are rich in B vitamins, as well as vitamin E and vitamin K. The B vitamins are eight water-soluble Vitamins that play important roles in cell Metabolism. See also Tocopherol, Tocotrienol Vitamin E is the collective name for a set of 8 related Tocopherols and Tocotrienols which are fat-soluble Vitamin K (K from "Koagulations-Vitamin" in German Danish Swedish and Norwegian denotes a group of Lipophilic, Hydrophobic Vitamins that ^[16] They have the highest fiber content of any fruit - including 75% insoluble and 25% soluble fiber. ^[17]

A fatty triol (fatty alcohol) with one double bond, avocadene (16-heptadecene-1,2,4-triol), is found in avocado. A triol is a Chemical compound containing three Hydroxyl groups (-OH groups such as Glycerol. Fatty alcohols are Aliphatic Alcohols derived from natural Fats and Oils originating in plants but also synthesized in animals and Algae ^[18]

As a houseplant

Avocado can be grown as a houseplant from seed. It can germinate in normal soil in a large pot or by suspending a washed pit (generally using toothpicks embedded in the sides) pointed-side up and filling the glass until the bottom quarter of the pit is covered. Soil, often typeset as SOiL, is a four piece rock band from Chicago Illinois United States founded by Shaun Glass Tom Schofield Tim King and Adam Zadel A toothpick is a small stick of Wood, Plastic, Bamboo, Metal or other substance used to remove detritus from the Teeth, usually after The pit will crack as it absorbs water and germinates, and should sprout in 4–6 weeks. When the roots and stem emerge from the seed, it can be planted in soil. The young tree is amenable to pruning and training but will not normally bear fruit indoors without sufficient sunlight and a second plant to cross-pollinate. Pollination in angiosperms and Gymnosperms is the process that transfers pollen grains, which contain the male Gametes (sperm to where the female

Toxicity to animals

There is documented evidence that animals such as cats, dogs, cattle, goats, rabbits, birds, fish and particularly, horses^[19][20] can be severely harmed or even killed when they consume the avocado leaves, bark, skin, or pit. The avocado fruit is poisonous to birds in some cases, so on a practical level feeding the fruit to birds should be avoided. Avocado leaves contain a toxic fatty acid derivative known as persin, which in sufficient quantity can cause equine colic and, with lack of veterinary treatment, death. Persin is a Fungicidal Toxin present in the Avocado, isolated only recently ^[21] The symptoms include gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory distress, congestion, fluid accumulation around the tissues of the heart and even death. Birds also seem to be particularly sensitive to this toxic compound. Negative effects in humans seem to be primarily in allergic individuals.

Co-evolution

The avocado may be an example of an 'evolutionary anachronism', a fruit adapted for ecological relationship with now-extinct large mammals (such as the giant ground sloth or the Gomphothere). Ecology (from Greek grc οἶκος oikos, "house(hold" and grc -λογία -logia) is the scientific study of In Biology and Ecology, extinction is the cessation of existence of a Species or group of taxa. Ground sloths are a diverse group of Extinct Sloths Mammals in the edentate Superorder Xenarthra. The Gomphotheres are a diverse group of Extinct Elephant -like animals ( Proboscideans that were widespread in North America during the Most large fleshy fruits serve the function of seed dispersal, accomplished by their consumption by large animals. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored Author Connie Barlow hypothesizes that the fruit, with its mildly toxic pit, may have co-evolved with Pleistocene megafauna to be swallowed whole and excreted in their dung, ready to sprout. In a broad sense biological co-evolution is "the change of a biological object triggered by the change of a related object" Pleistocene megafauna is the set of Species of large animals &mdash Mammals Birds and Reptiles &mdash that lived on Earth during the Pleistocene No extant native animal is large enough to effectively disperse avocado seeds in this fashion. When the avocado's hypothesized ecological partners disappeared the avocado likely would have gone extinct, or evolved a different fruit morphology, if human cultivation had not maintained this "ghost of evolution. "^[22]

See also

• Recalcitrant seed

References

External links

• Purdue horticultural lecture on Avocados with pictures of cultivation from fertilization to harvest
• Avocadosource.com Online library of avocado research papers.
• California Rare Fruit Growers, avocados beyond Persea americana
• How to Ripen Avocadoes

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