Phenology of hass avocado in the Andean tropics of Caldas, Colombia

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study was to document and analyze the effect of climate on the phenological development of ‘Hass’ avocado in two contrasting zones of the Andean tropics of Caldas, located at altitudes of 1,950m and 2,400m a.s.l., respectively. A completely randomized experimental design was carried out using a five to seven year-old ‘Hass’ tree as experimental unit and 15 replicates on each area. Observations were conducted on lateral sylleptic shoots and their corresponding apical buds located on the eastern and western sides of each tree. The destination of the apical bud of lateral shoots was quantified, floral phenology was documented, heat units were calculated from reproductive bud stage 1 to anthesis and to harvest and root growth was followed for each study area. Air temperature, soil temperature, precipitation and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) values were recorded over time. Differences were found in the number of apical buds of lateral shoots with reproductive and vegetative destination, flowering phenology, heat units, root growth, PAR and precipitation. Differences were found among variables evaluated at the two contrasting altitudes. There is a clear need for further ecophysiological studies on this fruit tree in tropical areas in particular.

Keywords

• ecophysiology
• sylleptic shoots
• photosynthetically active radiation
• alternate bearing
• cumulative heat units