Overview of Avocado Trees and Pollination
Avocados are a delicious, nutritious fruit that can be found on menus, in homes and in markets all over the world. They’re a great way to add healthy fats into your diet, and they come from the Persea americana tree, also known as the avocado tree. The avocado tree is believed to be native to Mexico and Central America, although it’s been naturalized in regions around the world. As with all plants, avocado trees need pollination in order to bear fruit.
Avocado Trees and Self-Pollination
Avocado trees can easily self-pollinate, meaning they will pollinate themselves depending on the type of tree. Despite the capability of self-pollination, it’s not as successful as cross-pollination from another tree. Self-pollinated avocados will have a lower yield than those that are cross-pollinated, and the quality of the fruit decline. Self-pollinated avocados are also likely to have this reduction in quality genetics-wise.
Do Avocado Trees Need Another Tree to Pollinate?
Yes, avocados do need another tree in order to be properly pollinated. Although the avocado tree can self-pollinate, it’s not as effective as having another tree cross-pollinate it. As mentioned previously, cross-pollination helps improve the quality and yield of the avocadoes significantly, making it the preferred method of pollination.
Effects of Cross-Pollination Versus Self-Pollination
When two trees cross-pollinate, they not only increase the quality of each tree’s avocados but also the yield. As a result, more avocados are produced and each tree’s rights to production are equal. This means free sharing of a greater amount of avocados. All these benefits rely on the successful pollination of two trees. For example, a Starking tree and a Fuerte tree are some of the varieties that have the highest success rate for cross-pollination.
Non-Compatible Pollination
Not all varieties of avocado trees can pollinate each other. Some are incompatible and will not pollinate when combined. However, some avocado varieties are non-compatible but can be used to feed and nurture the other trees and provide them with some nutrients. Moreover, when two trees of varieties that cannot be pollinated are placed next to each other, they can still help each other as they transfer pollen through the air which is more common during high winds.
Expert Opinion on Avocado Tree Pollination
According to experts, it’s important to keep in mind that even though the avocado tree is self-pollinating, it’s still beneficial to have a compatible avocado tree planted nearby. This will increase the likelihood of successful pollination and better fruit quality, yielding higher quantities and a wider variety of avocado fruits.
Options of Trees for Pollination
When buying an avocado tree, you should keep in mind that there are different varieties that can be purchased. The Hass variety being the most popular and also the most expensive due to its high percentage of oil, is one of the few that can be self-pollinated. But if an even higher yield is to be desired, juxtaposing either a Fuerte or a Starking tree will allow for proper cross-pollination and much higher yield.
Distance Between Avocado Trees Pollinator
Getting the desired yield from the pollination between avocado trees requires a certain distance to be respected between the two trees. To ensure that the pollinators share their genes efficiently, one has to plant the cross-pollinator at least 20 feet away from the main producing tree. This distance also makes for better air circulation and sunlight intake, two factors essential for proper pollination.
Impact of Temperature on Pollination
The temperature during the avocado flowering and pollination season varies depending on the species. As such, making sure the temperature around the trees is appropriate during the pollination season is vital for increasing the rate of pollination and thus, increasing the yield. Pollen can be produced year-round, however, during cooler temperatures, the production of pollen decreases. Higher temperatures and increased sunlight will create a more favorable climate for avocado trees during pollination season.
Pollination Process of Avocado Trees
Avocado trees are divided into two types, Type A and Type B, for classifying pollination activity. Type A trees have flowers that bloom in the morning and close in the afternoon, whereas Type B trees bloom in the afternoon and close in the morning. The reasoning for this is to increase the likelihood of cross-pollination. Pollen from Type A trees is transferred from its stamen to the pistil of a Type B tree while the latter’s flowers are open.
Wind and Insects as Pollinators of Avocado Trees
Wind and insects like bees and butterflies also play a role in the pollination of avocado trees. Pollen from Type A trees is carried by the wind and deposited on the pistil of Type B trees. In addition, bees and other pollinating insects transfer pollen from the male flowers to female flowers, both of which can be found on the same tree. As such, the presence of both wind and insects can significantly increase the rate of pollination, which translates to a higher yield of avocados.
Protecting the Pollination Process of Avocado Trees
For the best outcome of pollination, there are certain precautions that must be taken. The area around the tree should be kept clean, free of debris like leaves and dead foliage, and cleared regularly. Additionally, pesticides should not be used near avocado trees during their pollination season. Protective netting must also be installed to avoid unwanted pollination. This can help reduce contamination from other plants, reducing the amount of cross-pollination.
Effects of Human Activity on Avocado Trees
The success of avocado tree pollination depends heavily on maintaining a balanced ecosystem that doesn’t create too much disruption for these trees. Human activities such as contamination, deforestation, land clearing and overgrazing can all affect the pollination of these trees because of reduced or hindered access to other trees and the effects of global warming. As such, pollinating an avocado tree becomes more difficult as human activities continue to increase in frequency and intensity.
Avocado Trees and Animal Pollinators
Animals such as bats, birds, and squirrels also play a crucial role in the pollination of the avocado tree. Bat and bird feces act as pollen substitutes, which can be spread to other trees, helping to promote cross-pollination. Squirrels can also serve as pollinators by eating and discarding the pulp, effectively spreading the pollen on other trees. As with other pollinators, however, the presence of humans and human activities can impede their effectiveness in pollinating avocado trees.
How to Increase the Yield of Avocado Trees
To maximize the yield of an avocado tree, there are a few considerations that need to be taken into account. For starters, the tree should be planted in a sunny area and the surrounding soil should be regularly fertilized. Regular pruning and removing of dead foliage and branches also helps to keep the tree healthy and promote pollination. Suitable pollinators should also be planted nearby to increase the chances of successful pollination and a higher yield of fruits.
