Crop of avocado

The avocado Persea americna Mill is a major fruit crop of the tropics and subtropics. Avocado ranks 10th in total production among fruit crops after Musa spp. (banana and plantain).

The major production areas are in the Western Hemisphere. The most important producing countries are Mexico, the United States, Brazil, Dominican Republic and Indonesia.

Botanically, avocado fruit are considered berries. They consists of a single, large seed with two cotyledons surrounded by the tick fleshy, edible mesocarp and the rind.

Avocado prefer mild winters of tropics and subtropics. Plants are extremely sensitive to poor drainage, heavy clay and saline conditions and windy situations.

Oil may be obtained from the fruit pulp and pit. It has a high nutritional value since it contains essential fatty acids. Minerals, proteins and vitamins A, B6, C, D and E.

The content of saturated fatty acids in the pulp of the fruit and in the oil is low; on contrary, it is very high in mono-unsaturated fatty acids. The oil content of the fruit is in the range 12-30%.
Crop of avocado