`Lavi'—A New Avocado Cultivar

Abstract

Based on the IBPGR descriptors for avocado (1992): the tree is small in size (about 6 m without pruning), smaller and narrower than ‘Lamb-Hass’ and upright with dense foliage. The leaves are fl at and smooth, medium in size with slightly upstanding edges. The fl ush is red-brown and almost no anise scent is noticeable in the leaves. Flowering season is during the month of April. ‘Lavi’ belongs to the A fl owering group and its potential as an effi cient pollenizer for the cultivars of the B fl owering group is under investigation. Productivity of ‘Lavi’ is good (about 20 t/ha) and compared to the ‘Hass’, ‘Lavi’ is a better producer with a smaller tendency toward alternate bearing. The fruit can be harvested without the stem (snapped) with no damage to the pericarp. It is ovate shaped and uniform in shape and size (Fig. 1). Like ‘Hass’ the peel color changes to black towards ripening (Table 1). Fruit weight is from 260 to 400 g according to the crop load and time of harvest. The peel is glossy, pebbly, stony, breakable and somewhat thicker than ‘Hass’. Peel separation of the ripe fruit is intermediate. The seed is small, oval and usually 6% to 12% of the fruit weight. The cutting. Harvest season is from December to March which coincides with the main harvest season of ‘Hass’. Based on preliminary studies, at the Department of Postharvest Science at the Volcani Center, ‘Lavi’ can be stored for 3 weeks at 5 °C and 95% RH without damage and hardly any rotting. After this period of cold storage, shelf life at 20 °C, is 5 to 7 d. Softening at room temperature takes 11 to 12 d. The level of rotting increases towards the end of the harvest season. The only detected fungus was Colletotrichum gloeosporioides which affected the fruit body and not the stem end. Storage experiments to generate suffi cient data regarding the incidence of rottenness are in progress.