Genetic Selection During the Abscission of Avocado Fruitlets

Abstract

Abstract Evidence is presented suggesting that genetic selection could be an important factor in avocado fruitlet abscission. ‘Ettinger’ embryos ( Persea americana Mill.) at different stages of fruit development were classified according to their leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) electrophoretic pattern in the Lap-2 locus. Analysis of several fruitlet populations showed significant deviations from the expected Mendelian ratio. The genotypic ratios at the different stages indicate genetic selection during fruitlet abscission.