Disease control in avocado

摘要

Avocado, once regarded as an exotic fruit is increasingly staple fare in export markets. It also attracts its fair share of disease challenge, writes Dr Terry Mabbett. Avocado is increasingly finding ready export markets for pi oducing countries. Theavocado fruit is a nutritional feast, with its 5-30 per cent fat, 2-4 per cent protein, 3 per cent sugar and high levels of potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, sulphur and vitamins. And as often happens with high-nutrition fruit, it is a prime target forpests and diseases. While many insect pests have been recorded on avocado it is the disease mainly caused by fungi that causes economic damage in terms of reduced yield and loss of quality.