UC Riverside

The ‘Hass’ avocado, originating from La Habra Heights, California, is a globally significant crop. Over time, somatic mutations have arisen from repeated grafting, leading to the development of two notable cultivars from Chile: ‘Flavia’ and ‘Eugenin’. Both cultivars produce larger fruit than ‘Hass’, with ‘Flavia’ fruit also reported to mature earlier. Avocado maturity is measured by dry weight, which represents the non-water mass of the fruit. Different dry weight standards are necessary for various cultivars and growing regions, as climate significantly influences the maturation rate of avocado fruits.This study investigates the fatty acid composition of ‘Hass’, ‘Flavia’, and ‘Eugenin’, given that lipids constitute the majority of the avocado fruit’s dry weight and are its most nutritionally important component. Over two years, it was found that palmitoleic acid consistently had higher levels in ‘Eugenin’ and ‘Flavia’ fruit compared to ‘Hass’. The study also examined the environmental effects on fatty acid composition by comparing these cultivars in two different locations. Significant environmental effects were observed, consistent with existing literature, showing lower levels of oleic acid and higher levels of palmitic acid in fruit from the warmer trial site. Sensory panels conducted over two years assessed whether participants could distinguish between the cultivars. While differences were detectable, consistent differentiation was only achieved with statistical significance in the second year. The findings confirmed that ‘Flavia’ and ‘Eugenin’ produce larger fruits than ‘Hass’. Cultivar differences in dry weight accumulation were also noted in the sensory panel portion of the trial, where a larger sample size revealed these differences. In conclusion, detectable differences in the maturity metrics and composition of ‘Flavia’ and ‘Eugenin’ compared to ‘Hass’ fruits were found, but these differences were not of the same nature as those resulting from environmental conditions that hasten fruit maturation. While further research is needed, this study provides a promising start in understanding both the distinct characteristics and environmental responses of ‘Flavia’ and ‘Eugenin’ compared to ‘Hass’.