Avocado Growth Phases on the tree

He avocado is a tropical fruit what has accomplished have one great acceptance around the world. Mainly in Spain, registers a high consumption of this fruit. It is for this reason that its cultivation has been spreading and has woken up a great interest to know their growth process.

Know how avocados grow on the tree it can be great usefulness to provide adequate care to both the plant and the fruit. For this, then, we will explain, with images, las different phases of growth of this fruit in detail.

States or phases of avocado growth

The phases of growth avocado they can differentiate according to the appearance, from the bud to the tender fruit. Then, we explain and offer a visual resource that will help you identify each of these phases.

State A

It is a phase called “bud in dormancy”. Herein, The buds appear closed and have a yellow to grayish hue., with acute form. Similarly, Visible scale covers can be seen that indicate the beginning of the cycle.

These yolks they generally appear on the same bud of the previous vegetative cycle. Also, they can appear in the terminals or in the axillary areas, at the top of the shoot, but always very close to the apical bud.

State B

This is a phase that is called “swollen bud” and it can be differentiated when we notice that the scales of the yolk are a little darker. Similarly, is begin to spread outwards, while the yolk acquires a more rounded shape.

In this phase you begin to notice the bracts of an orange hue, which cover and protect the inflorescence, in addition to becoming visible. From this moment,  induced bud sprouting is considered to begin.

State C

In this phase the inflorescence. Namely, the bracts of the inflorescence begin to open, so the flower buds acquire a pale green color. Similarly, A yellowish or greenish hue can be observed between the bracteoles.

In this way, the plant protects small clusters of panicles who are in training, as well as flower buds.

State D1

In this state you can already see the flower buds, although they are still in the phase of secondary axis growth. Both the primary and secondary axis undergo an elongation that makes them clearly visible. The difference is that in this axis, flower buds are individually differentiated, although they continue grouped in its panicle.

It can also be distinguished that the bracteoles are still they constantly protect the flower buds of the clusters. In the same way, At its base the bracts and its first scales still remain., with which it began its development process.

State D2

In this point, the flower buds are already entering the tertiary axis that becomes visible. From this moment, begins the elongation of the tertiary axes of the inflorescence. with this, we can notice that, throughout the three levels of branching, these maintain a color pale green and they continue to lengthen.

Regarding flower buds, these they begin a separate in clusters inside the panicle. On the other hand, the bracteoles that are at the base are show slightly extended outwards and somewhat drier than the rest.

State E

This is a phase called yellow button, because the axes of the inflorescence are elongated and differentiated within the panicle clusters. At this stage, most bracteoles have fallen off or are withered.

In the case of the tepals of the flower buds, these are evident and They have a well-defined distal end, in addition to a clear transition from green to yellow. On the other hand, They have stopped being united and now appear separated.

State F

This is the state itself of the bloom and in it you can observe various subphases of this process. In this floral opening process there are different phases, which we will divide according to whether it is the female or male opening (due to the protogynous dichogamous behavior of the avocado) 

Substate F1f

This is the phase in which the flower begins to open into its female stage, and its tepals open at an angle of 45º. At the moment, Its pistil is greenish white and appears completely erect., with a fresh and receptive stigma. In the same way, Its stamens have a short, green filament that remains reclined and protected by the tepals.

Substate F2f

This state is called open flower in female phase and can be identified when the flower is fully open. In this phase, The tepals are arranged so that they are completely perpendicular to the axis of the flower. Even so, its pistil remains completely erect and with a fresh stigma.

Substate F3f

In this state you can now observe how the flower begins to close during its female phase. During this process, the anthers that have not dehisced They begin to rise and lean towards the center of the flower until they touch the pistil a third of its length.. In this phase, the tepals close, but the pistil and stigma still remain fresh.

Substate F1c

In this phase it can be seen that the flower is completely closed. This is observed because the tepals are completely folded and protect the center of their reproductive structures. At this stage, the pistil is longer and acquires a slightly yellowish tone.

Substate F1m

In this state you can see how the flower begins to open in its male phase. At this stage, It is observed that the tepals are a little more elongated and open at an angle of up to 45º, while its pistil remains erect. However, his stigma begins to darken.

Substate F2m

In this phase, the flower is shown open, but with the anthers not those who fail. In her, The tepals turn yellow and reach a position perpendicular to the axis of the flower. Regarding its stamens of the outer whorl, these are at an angle of 45º, while its anthers remain closed.

Substate F3m

This is a phase where the flower is still open and is in its first dehiscence. In her, the outer anthers are the first to open their valves. Also, the tepals continue to unfold beyond the position perpendicular to the axis of the flower.

In the case of nectaries, These are slightly raised and are responsible for secreting a large amount of nectar., while the staminodes begin to wither.

Substate F4m

In this phase begins the complete dehiscence, because the flower reaches its maximum opening . The outer whorl of the tepals bends completely downwards, while the interior still remains perpendicular to the axis of the flower. For his part, the stamens are kept with their anthers completely open.

Substate F5m

During this phase, the male flower starts to close. The first thing that happens is that the stamens of the outer whorl they begin to rise towards the pistil, and these are followed by the tepals, than acquire a more intense yellowish tone. As for the pistil, this one turns darker and slightly sinuous, while nectaries stop producing nectar.

Substate F2c

In this phase, the male flower remains completely closed. In it you can see that The tepals are long and have, at half its length, scar marks or folds that indicate they have been opened twice. While, inside, the stamens have surrounded the pistil, leaving the ovary completely protected.

State G

In this phase it is already beginning to be noticed the wilting of the tepals, advancing from its apex to the base. In the case of flowers, these begin to take on a shape conical, while the whorled structures inside They are still grouped in the center.

State H

This phase is called “curdled”, because the ovary begins to thicken and acquire a intense green tone. This happens in the center of the flower, once it has been successfully pollinated and fertilized.

He dry stigma begins to become more noticeable, staying attached to the upper end of the ovary. As for the remaining floral pieces, is They continue to wither and end up falling off or giving way to the rapid growth of the new fruit..

State I

This is the final stage called “tender fruit” and in it, the rest of the tepals and the androecium have completely detached, while the peduncle has thickened to support its weight. The expansion of this berry gives rise to the characteristic development of the fruit, than acquires a piriform shape (similar to a pear) and in which a high density of lenticels is evident in its epidermis.