Some important avocado varieties
- Fuerte: A hybrid between Guatemalan and Mexican races, this is the leading commercial variety worldwide, particularly in California. The pyriform fruits weigh between 225-450 g, with smooth, dull green skin, and exhibit alternate bearing tendencies. The oil content varies from 18-26%.
- Pollock: Belonging to the West Indian race, this is a vigorous variety with large (900-1300 g), oblong to pyriform fruits. The oil content is lower (3.5%), and the variety is well-suited to lowland tropics.
- Hass: Originating from the Guatemalan race, this variety produces round, medium-sized fruits that turn purple upon ripening. The oil content is around 20%, and the variety is suitable for subtropical climates.
- TDK-1: A semi-spreading variety released by the Horticultural Research Station at Thadiyankudisai, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. It has an upright growth habit, round fruits weighing 600-650 g, and produces 265 kg of fruits per tree. It is an early variety (Chezhiyan et al., 1999).
- Lula: A seedling from the Guatemalan race, this is a fast-growing, high-yielding variety suitable for tropical climates. The pyriform fruits weigh 400-680 g, have a smooth, light green surface, and contain 12-15% oil.
- Green: Belonging to the Guatemalan race, this variety produces large (450-650 g), oval to obovate fruits with thick, brittle skin and is grown in India.
- Purple: From the West Indian race, this variety has pear-shaped fruits with a long neck, weighing 300-500 g. The skin is smooth, shiny, leathery, and deep crimson or maroon in color. The pulp is firm, smooth, fine-textured, and has a nutty flavor. It is a popular variety in India.
