Gene discovery could shave years off avocado breeding

Researchers at UC Riverside have identified a genetic switch that controls avocado flowering patterns, potentially accelerating breeding timelines by years. The discovery, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, allows scientists to determine whether young trees exhibit A- or B-type flowering patterns before the plants flower—a trait critical to pollination and crop yield. The finding could enable faster development of improved avocado varieties and enhance farm productivity.