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The present paper tests the use of an agricultural futures minimum tracking error portfolio to replicate the price of the Mexican Hass avocado (a non-commodity). The motivation is that this portfolio could be used to balance the basis risk that the avocado price hedge issuer could face. By performing a backtest of a theoretical avocado producer from January 2000 to September 2023, the results show that the avocado producer could hedge the avocado price by 94%, with the hedge offered by a theoretical financial or government institution. Also, this issuer could balance the risk of such a hedge by buying a coffee–sugar futures portfolio. The cointegrated or long-term relationship shows that using such a futures portfolio is useful for Mexican Hass avocado price hedging. This paper stands as one of the first in testing futures portfolios to offer a synthetic hedge of non-commodities through a commodities' futures portfolio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the production area on the quality of Hass avocados grown on the island of Tenerife was studied. For this purpose, several physicochemical parameters, such as fruit weight, percentage of pulp, seed and skin, proximate composition, minerals, total phenolic compounds (TP), total flavonoid compounds (TF), α-tocopherol, antioxidant capacity, and fatty acid profile were analyzed. The location of the orchards significantly influenced avocado weight; pulp and seed percentage; and fat, fiber, ash, α-tocopherol, TP, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, and oleic and palmitoleic acid contents. Buenavista (BU) avocados were the smallest (185 g) and presented the highest percentage of pulp (77.1%) and lowest percentage of fiber (5.43%). The highest levels of dry matter (33.8%) and fat (20.4%) were found in avocados harvested in Los Silos (SI) and Santiago del Teide (SA), respectively. Compared with those at the other locations, the avocados harvested in Güímar (GU) had high levels of α-tocopherol (52.2 µg g−1) and phenolic compounds (56.0 mg GAE 100 g−1). Avocados from Los Realejos (RE) had the highest percentage of oleic acid and the lowest percentage of palmitoleic acid. Numerous significant correlations were found between the variables studied, especially those between TP, TF, and antioxidant capacity (DPPH) and between fat percentage and dry matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper tests the use of an agricultural futures minimum tracking error portfolio to replicate the price of the Mexican Hass avocado (a non-commodity). The motivation is that this portfolio could be used to balance the basis risk that the avocado price hedge issuer could face. By performing a backtest of a theoretical avocado producer from January 2000 to September 2023, the results show that the avocado producer could hedge the avocado price by 94%, with the hedge offered by a theoretical financial or government institution. Also, this issuer could balance the risk of such a hedge by buying a coffee–sugar futures portfolio. The cointegrated or long-term relationship shows that using such a futures portfolio is useful for Mexican Hass avocado price hedging. This paper stands as one of the first in testing futures portfolios to offer a synthetic hedge of non-commodities through a commodities’ futures portfolio.

Root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands, is one of the main factors that limits avocado production worldwide; silicon as a defense inducer seems to be a viable strategy to integrate into the management of this disease. Hereby, the present study evaluated the induction of resistance with silicon in Hass avocado plants inoculated with P. cinnamomi, as a possible alternative to conventional agrochemical management. A potassium silicate solution (10 mL, 0.2 M expressed as SiO2) was applied by irrigation, for ten days before inoculation with P. cinnamomi in Hass avocado plants. Leaf samples were taken at 3, 24, 144, and 312 h after inoculation with the pathogen. Peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes had their highest activity 3 h after pathogen inoculation (p

Accurate dry matter determination (DM) in Hass avocados is vital for optimal harvesting and ensuring fruit quality. Predictive models based on NIRS need to capture fruit DM gradient. This work aimed to determine the DM content in Hass avocado whole by NIRS scanning different fruit zones. Spectra were recorded for each zone of the fruit: peduncle (P), equator (E), and base (B). The calibration and validation included fruit from different orchards in two harvest cycles. The results show a DM gradient within the fruit: 24.47% (E), 24.68% (B), and 24.79% (P). The DM gradient was observed within the spectra using the RMSi (root mean square) criterion and PCA. The results show that at least one spectrum per fruit zone was needed to represent the variability within the fruit. The performances of the calibration using the whole set of data were R2: 0.74 and standard error of cross-validation (SECV) = 1.18%. In the validation stage using independent validation sets, the models showed similar performance (R2: 0.75, SECV 1.15%) with low values of the standard error of prediction (SEP): 1.62%. These results demonstrate the potential of near-infrared spectroscopy for high-throughput sorting of avocados based on their commercial quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of CULCyT: Cultura Científica y Tecnológica is the property of Cultura Cientifica y Tecnologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Avocado is an important export and consumption product in Colombia, and its economic importance is expected to increase in the coming years. With its vast potential territory for avocado cultivation, the department of Cauca is a crucial area for producing this variety. However, small producers in the region often need more knowledge of the most suitable locations for planting. This study seeks to determine the ideal areas for Hass avocado cultivation in Cauca using geographic information tools and multi-criteria decision analysis, using a set of official data from different governmental entities and the hierarchical analytical process that allows determining the intensity of the interrelation of factors in the cultivation of Hass avocado. The results indicate that the municipalities near the Popayán plateau have the most significant potential for Hass avocado production, using the analytical hierarchy process. Approximately 9.2% of the administrative territory of the region is classified as highly suitable for Hass avocado cultivation, and an additional 14.2% is considered moderately suitable, constituting about 700,000 hectares of arable land. This research provides decision-makers and producers with valuable knowledge to support and improve Hass avocado agriculture in the region by implementing agricultural engineering practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hass avocado quality varies by origin, season, and production practices. However, there is a lack of methodologies to guarantee that fruit reaching the market has consistent quality. The aim of this work was to identify predictive markers for quality management. Fruit samples produced under different nutrient management, elevation, date-to-harvest, and growth cycle conditions were analyzed. Dry matter, oil content, internal disorders, sensory attributes, minerals, and fatty acids were evaluated as quality variables. The results highlighted soil and weather differences among orchards. Nutrient management practices based on index balancing in some samples increased both productivity and fruit size. High variability was observed in the dry matter related to the age of the fruit at harvest. Ripening heterogeneity was very large in low-elevation orchards where the fruit was picked relatively early. High flesh mineral contents delayed fruit ripening. At low growing temperatures, more oleic and linoleic acids were present in fruits. The sensory texture and taste descriptors were affected by the fruit age and related to the flesh composition. Logistic, PLS-DA, and biplot models effectively represented the variabilities in the ripening pattern, composition, and sensory profile of avocado fruits and allowed the samples to be grouped according to the internal fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the production area on the quality of Hass avocados grown on the island of Tenerife was studied. For this purpose, several physicochemical parameters, such as fruit weight, percentage of pulp, seed and skin, proximate composition, minerals, total phenolic compounds (TP), total flavonoid compounds (TF), α-tocopherol, antioxidant capacity, and fatty acid profile were analyzed. The location of the orchards significantly influenced avocado weight; pulp and seed percentage; and fat, fiber, ash, α-tocopherol, TP, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, and oleic and palmitoleic acid contents. Buenavista (BU) avocados were the smallest (185 g) and presented the highest percentage of pulp (77.1%) and lowest percentage of fiber (5.43%). The highest levels of dry matter (33.8%) and fat (20.4%) were found in avocados harvested in Los Silos (SI) and Santiago del Teide (SA), respectively. Compared with those at the other locations, the avocados harvested in Güímar (GU) had high levels of α-tocopherol (52.2 µg g−1) and phenolic compounds (56.0 mg GAE 100 g−1). Avocados from Los Realejos (RE) had the highest percentage of oleic acid and the lowest percentage of palmitoleic acid. Numerous significant correlations were found between the variables studied, especially those between TP, TF, and antioxidant capacity (DPPH) and between fat percentage and dry matter.

Globally, about 8.06 million tonnes of avocado are produced annually. According to Food and Agricultural Organisation Corporate Statistical Database, 2020, Kenya was ranked the 6th highest avocado producer globally. The processing of avocado leads to the production of large quantities of peels and seeds that are typically disposed off as waste without any further application. Avocado peels and seeds are claimed to contain high amounts of phytochemicals that offer therapeutic and other nutritional benefits. These compounds can be used to produce economically high-value products. The amounts of phenols present vary with different factors such as the varieties of avocado, level of ripening, maturation, growing conditions, and climatic conditions. Studies have shown that phenolics found in avocado peels and seeds exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and contain related health benefits. Despite findings, that these by-products contain high-value functional properties that are beneficial to human health, pharmaceutical and food industry, they still remain underutilized. Avocado seeds and peels are currently being used traditionally in the production of soaps, pharmaceuticals, and food products, including beverage products. This review, therefore, focuses on the avocado production trend in Kenya from the year 2011 to 2020 compared to other parts of the world, with emphasis on the composition of avocado seeds and peels and their utilization in food products.

Accurate dry matter determination (DM) in Hass avocados is vital for optimal harvesting and ensuring fruit quality. Predictive models based on NIRS need to capture fruit DM gradient. This work aimed to determine the DM content in Hass avocado whole by NIRS scanning different fruit zones. Spectra were recorded for each zone of the fruit: peduncle (P), equator (E), and base (B). The calibration and validation included fruit from different orchards in two harvest cycles. The results show a DM gradient within the fruit: 24.47% (E), 24.68% (B), and 24.79% (P). The DM gradient was observed within the spectra using the RMSi (root mean square) criterion and PCA. The results show that at least one spectrum per fruit zone was needed to represent the variability within the fruit. The performances of the calibration using the whole set of data were R2: 0.74 and standard error of cross-validation (SECV) = 1.18%. In the validation stage using independent validation sets, the models showed similar performance (R2: 0.75, SECV 1.15%) with low values of the standard error of prediction (SEP): 1.62%. These results demonstrate the potential of near-infrared spectroscopy for high-throughput sorting of avocados based on their commercial quality.

The avocado fruit is an agro-industrial product with high export demand in Peru due to its sensory and nutritional qualities, which can be affected during storage. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of the application of a coating formulated with potato starch (Solanum tuberosum ssp andigena), nopal mucilage (Opuntia ficus indica), and pectin on the physicochemical and physiological properties during the storage of Fuerte and Hass avocados. Samples were taken in their harvest state from the plantation in "Occobamba", which is cultivated by the Avocado Producers Association in Chincheros, Apurímac, Peru. Physicochemical properties (titratable acidity, pH, total soluble solids) and physiological properties (weight loss, firmness, and color L* a* b*) were determined during 20 days of storage at 20 °C. The elaborated films present high transparency and low aw values. In the coated avocado of the Hass and Fuerte varieties, acidity and total soluble solids decreased significantly (p-value < 0.05) during the storage time. Weight loss and firmness of coated fruits decrease to a lesser extent. Luminosity L*, color index, and color variation showed better attributes for the coated samples. The use of coatings made with potato starch, nopal mucilage, and pectin allows the physicochemical and physiological properties of avocado fruits to be maintained for a longer time during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hass avocado quality varies by origin, season, and production practices. However, there is a lack of methodologies to guarantee that fruit reaching the market has consistent quality. The aim of this work was to identify predictive markers for quality management. Fruit samples produced under different nutrient management, elevation, date-to-harvest, and growth cycle conditions were analyzed. Dry matter, oil content, internal disorders, sensory attributes, minerals, and fatty acids were evaluated as quality variables. The results highlighted soil and weather differences among orchards. Nutrient management practices based on index balancing in some samples increased both productivity and fruit size. High variability was observed in the dry matter related to the age of the fruit at harvest. Ripening heterogeneity was very large in low-elevation orchards where the fruit was picked relatively early. High flesh mineral contents delayed fruit ripening. At low growing temperatures, more oleic and linoleic acids were present in fruits. The sensory texture and taste descriptors were affected by the fruit age and related to the flesh composition. Logistic, PLS-DA, and biplot models effectively represented the variabilities in the ripening pattern, composition, and sensory profile of avocado fruits and allowed the samples to be grouped according to the internal fruit quality.

The objective of this study is to assess lean manufacturing tool as a strategie that mitigate operational risks in the supply chains of Hass avocado in the state of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Value stream mapping is applied and risks are characterized and prioritized by using FMEA (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis) and FQFD (Fuzzy Quality Function Deployment). Risks are correlated to waste to propose mitigation actions associated with lean manufacturing tools. The results show that 5S (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain), Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), standard work, and visual management support the mitigation of the risks examined. In conclusion, the productive chain is composed of producers, primary transport, packing lines, and secondary transport, which are essential links and the main sources of operational risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avocado is an important export and consumption product in Colombia, and its economic importance is expected to increase in the coming years. With its vast potential territory for avocado cultivation, the department of Cauca is a crucial area for producing this variety. However, small producers in the region often need more knowledge of the most suitable locations for planting. This study seeks to determine the ideal areas for Hass avocado cultivation in Cauca using geographic information tools and multi-criteria decision analysis, using a set of official data from different governmental entities and the hierarchical analytical process that allows determining the intensity of the interrelation of factors in the cultivation of Hass avocado. The results indicate that the municipalities near the Popayán plateau have the most significant potential for Hass avocado production, using the analytical hierarchy process. Approximately 9.2% of the administrative territory of the region is classified as highly suitable for Hass avocado cultivation, and an additional 14.2% is considered moderately suitable, constituting about 700,000 hectares of arable land. This research provides decision-makers and producers with valuable knowledge to support and improve Hass avocado agriculture in the region by implementing agricultural engineering practices.

In recent years, avocados have gained worldwide popularity as a nutritive food. This trend is causing a rise in the production of this fruit, which is accompanied by several problems associated with monocultural practices. Despite massive economic gains, limited molecular and structural information has been generated about avocado ripening. In fact, limited studies have attempted to unravel the proteome complexity dynamics of avocado fruit. We therefore conducted a comparative proteomics study on avocado peel and pulp during the postharvest shelf life using tandem mass tag synchronous precursor selection triple-stage mass spectrometry. We identified 3161 and 1128 proteins in the peel and pulp, respectively. Peels exhibited major over-accumulation of proteins associated with water deprivation and oxidative stress, along with abscisic acid biosynthesis. Ethylene, jasmonic acid, phenylpropanoid, and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways were activated. Structurally, we observed the accumulation of lignin and a reduction in cuticular thickness, which coincides with the reduction in the levels of long-chain acyl-coenzyme A synthetase and a marginal increase in 10,16-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid. Our study sheds light on the association of proteome modulation with the structural features of Hass avocado. Its detailed characterization will provide an alternative for better preservation during the postharvest period.

Hymenoptera, especially bees, play a fundamental role in increasing the fruitiness and quality of the avocado through proper pollination. This study proposed to determine hymenopteran floral visitor fauna and potential pollinators of the Hass avocado cultivar in Colombia. The research was carried out on a single plot of land on a farm during two consecutive flowering periods (Aug-Sep. 2013/ Feb-Mar. 2014), randomly selecting four trees for the sampling and changing them every week. Hymenoptera richness did not differ significantly between flowering periods. Besides Apis mellifera, a wide diversity of floral visitors was found in the cultivar studied. Thirteen families of Hymenoptera were recorded, among them, three bee species of the Meliponini tribe: Scaptotrigona barrocoloradensis (Schwarz) (37%), Partamona cf. aequatoriana Camargo (32%) and Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille) (17.65%). Bees carried pollen from 18 botanical families, the most frequent were: Asteraceae (30.08%), Lauraceae (28.02%) and Urticaceae (19.49%). Although A. mellifera has the highest diversity and abundance in its pollen load, the stingless bees together transported about half of the available avocado pollen (47.53%). These bees stood out for having greater specificity in their pollen load, on surveying the insect body areas where they transport pollen. In A. mellifera, P. cf. aequatoriana and S. barrocoloradensis, avocado pollen adheres mainly to the legs while in T. angustula the greater pollen adherence was in the head and thorax. Although A. mellifera was the main pollinator, as a result of greater visit frequency and pollen load, the potential importance of the native bee species for pollination services is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hass avocado is a climacteric fruit with high oil content and excellent organoleptic characteristics. The storage conditions (temperature and relative humidity) during transport and ripening are essential to guarantee that the fruit reaches the consumer with the best physicochemical and organoleptic characteristics. The objective of this work was to determine the combined effect of storage temperature during transport under refrigerated conditions and the ripening temperature, on the physicochemical properties of the Hass avocado exported from Valle del Cauca. A factorial design 32 was used, in which the factors corresponded to the storage temperatures (5, 7 and 9 °C) and ripening temperatures (17, 20 and 23 °C). In both cases, the relative humidity was 90 %. The fruits were stored for 20 days to simulate the export process, and the physicochemical properties were measured every 5 days. Subsequently, the fruits were submitted to ripening at 17, 20 and 23 °C until a maturity degree of 5, corresponding to the maturity of consumption. The best handling conditions were achieved at a storage temperature of 7 °C and ripening of 20 °C. The final product presented a homogeneous ripening, without internal defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of non-invasive and low-cost methodologies allows the monitoring of fruit ripening and quality control, without affecting the product under study. In particular, the Hass avocado is of high importance for the agricultural sector in Colombia because the country is strongly promoting its export, which has generated an expansion in the number of acres cultivated with this fruit. Therefore, this paper aims to study and analyze the ripening state of Hass avocados through non-invasive hyperspectral images, using principal component analysis (PCA) along with spectral vegetation indices, such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), ratio vegetation index (RVI), photochemical reflectance index (PRI), colorimetry analysis in the CIE L*a*b* color space, and color index triangular greenness index (TGI). In particular, this work conducts a quantitative analysis of the ripening process of a population of 7 Hass avocados over 10 days. The avocados under study were classified into three categories: unripe, close-to-ripe, and ripe. The obtained results show that it is possible to characterize the ripening state of avocados through hyperspectral images using a non-invasive acquisition system. Further, it is possible to know the post-harvest ripening state of the avocado at any given day.

Analysis of potential areas for crop establishment is necessary for sustainable agricultural planning, conservation of natural ecosystems, and achievement of food security's current global objective. This study aims to model the current potential distribution of the optimal areas for Hass avocado crop in Mexico, along with the likely impact of climate change on the crops and the surrounding mountain ecosystems in the state of Michoacán, the principal producer. The maximum entropy approach was used to model the current and future potential distribution of the avocado using points of presence of avocado cultivation in Mexico and climatic variables under 10 global climate models (GCMs) and three representative concentration pathways (RCPs) from the IPCC. We estimated a current potential area for the establishment of Hass avocado crops in Mexico of 54 597km², associated with the temperate forests of the Transversal Volcanic Belt and the Sierra Madre del Sur. The loss of area for the establishment of avocado crops in Mexico was 31.1% under the most optimistic scenario, RCP 2.6, whereas 43.0% would be lost under the most pessimistic scenario, RCP 8.5. Currently, the potential distribution for the establishment of Hass avocado crops in the state of Michoacán is 22 561km². Given optimistic scenarios RCP2.6 andRCP8.5 of climate change by 2050, temperate forests mountain would represent 59 and 72.3%, respectively, of the potential area for establishing avocado in the state. Commercial pressure and climate change can lead to forest mountain ecosystem deforestation to establish new avocado crops and exacerbate water resource scarcity problems, jeopardising the entire production system's sustainability. Territorial planning should prioritise conservation policies to avoid land-use change and establish strategies to maintain avocado crop sustainability in the long-term under climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important issues that affect consumer fruit acceptance in the ‘Hass’ avocado international market are flesh disorders. These defects can be influenced by both pre- and postharvest factors. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the harvest season, storage time, mineral content, and preharvest variables on internal fruit disorders. Here, fruit was sampled from four farms in Antioquia (Colombia) at 22%, 26%, and 30% dry matter (DM) content. Samples were stored and ripened under simulated export conditions. Then, flesh bruising, flesh discoloration, body rots, vascular browning, stem end rot, and mineral content were assessed. The results showed that flesh disorders differ among farms and by harvest index and storage time. The most frequent defects found were vascular browning and stem end rot. Boron, calcium, nitrogen, manganese, magnesium, and potassium have a strong relationship with flesh disorders. Therefore, high boron and calcium contents, as well as a harvest at 26% DM, can substantially reduce avocado flesh disorders and improve internal fruit quality. Farmers that had a high flesh and soil mineral content and low rainfall and temperature produced fruits with fewer internal disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Online Journal Mundo Asia Pacífico is the property of Universidad EAFIT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Biociências is the property of Revista Biociencias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Antecedentes: en el mercado mundial el aguacate Hass es fruto de interés, por sus propiedades nutracéuticas y sensoriales. La creciente producción de aguacate en Colombia ha registrado alzas importantes en las exportaciones, siendo la calidad sensorial determinante. Objetivo: realizar una caracterización sensorial en aguacate Hass obtenido en dos subregiones de Antioquia-Colombia, considerando que los atributos sensoriales están influenciados por condiciones de cultivo y tratamientos posteriores a la cosecha. Materiales y métodos: se evaluaron tres momentos de cosecha según el porcentaje de materia seca (23, 26 y 30 %) y cuatro tiempos de almacenamiento (0, 3, 4 y 5 semanas) en dos fincas ubicadas en el departamento de Antioquia. La cosecha y almacenamiento de los frutos se realizó por Corpoica, C.I. La Selva. Los frutos fueron analizados por jueces entrenados de la UdeA, utilizando metodología descriptiva según ISO 11035:1994 - Perfil sensorial por aproximación multidimensional. Resultados: los jueces entrenados percibieron 29 atributos y fueron calificados en escala de 0 a 5 - según ISO 11035: en apariencia: grado de madurez superficial, uniformidad en el color, aspecto fresco y superficie aceitosa; olor: verde, floral, frutal, herbal, ácido, dulce, amargo y salino; sabor: aparte de los descriptores citados en olor, se calificaron: aceitoso, umami, sensaciones astringente y picante; textura: fundente, dureza, fibrosidad, humedad y aceitosidad. Se calificó la calidad general en escala de 0 a 3, siendo 3 un fruto de alta calidad. Las muestras de las semanas 3 y 4 fueron las de mejor equilibrio sensorial. Conclusiones: en la región de suroeste respecto a materia seca-MS y tiempo de almacenamiento-TA, la variable sabor frutal tiene correlación positiva y la calidad general con el porcentaje de MS. Las notas frutales fueron de coco, corozo, frutos secos y especiados. En la región del norte, el TA tuvo correlación positiva con la textura fundente y aceitoso, con notas frutales de corozo, nueces, zapote y mango verde. La ciencia sensorial es fundamental para analizar variables de calidad del aguacate, que permiten definir aspectos diferenciadores que destacan atributos del fruto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important issues that affect consumer fruit acceptance in the ‘Hass’ avocado international market are flesh disorders. These defects can be influenced by both pre- and postharvest factors. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the harvest season, storage time, mineral content, and preharvest variables on internal fruit disorders. Here, fruit was sampled from four farms in Antioquia (Colombia) at 22%, 26%, and 30% dry matter (DM) content. Samples were stored and ripened under simulated export conditions. Then, flesh bruising, flesh discoloration, body rots, vascular browning, stem end rot, and mineral content were assessed. The results showed that flesh disorders differ among farms and by harvest index and storage time. The most frequent defects found were vascular browning and stem end rot. Boron, calcium, nitrogen, manganese, magnesium, and potassium have a strong relationship with flesh disorders. Therefore, high boron and calcium contents, as well as a harvest at 26% DM, can substantially reduce avocado flesh disorders and improve internal fruit quality. Farmers that had a high flesh and soil mineral content and low rainfall and temperature produced fruits with fewer internal disorders.

Colombia has an agricultural tradition that offers significant development possibilities in the post- conflict era. However, given today’s knowledge and technology intensive agroindustry, efforts are needed so that the country’s engineering and science fields can contribute towards global competitiveness of Colombian agriculture. In this article, we review the success story of Cartama, an international Hass avocado producer and seller, based on a visit to their operation. From this experience, we identified opportunities and challenges at the intersection of engineering and agro-industrial ventures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Online Journal Mundo Asia Pacífico is the property of Universidad EAFIT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• A comparison of vegetation indices extracted from RGB aerial images was performed. • MDVI was proposed to properly compare the evolution of RGB VIs among statuses. • Nutrient variations were clearer during fruit production and harvesting. • MGRVI was found to better differentiate nutritional and water status. Maximizing crop production efficiently and sustainably through plant health monitoring is key for global food security. Monitoring large areas with remote sensing technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with sensors deals with time and money issues; however, the usage of advanced sensors such as hyperspectral, multispectral and thermal cameras limit their usage among all the stakeholders. In this study we explore different vegetation indices (VIs) extracted from aerial RGB images acquired in different flights to differentiate the nutritional and water statuses of Hass avocado plantations. We used an image processing workflow consisting of image selection through a convolutional neural network (CNN) model, tree crown segmentation, color correction and feature extraction to automate the computation of VIs from RGB images. To compare the performance of VIs in the differentiation of nutritional and water statuses, we proposed a comparison metric called Mean Distance between Vegetation Indices (MDVI), analyzed the evolution of the extracted features, and studied their relationships with gold standard Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measurements. Since the extracted features from each group vary from flight to flight due to multiple factors such as the light intensity of each season and the phenological stage of the plant, the proposed comparison metric leverages the differences between the features extracted from each group, thus reducing these temporal effects. We found that Modified Green Red Vegetation Index (MGRVI) allows a better differentiation of nutritional and water statuses. Furthermore, the correlation coefficients of this VI in the three statuses and NDVI for nitrogen group range between 0.63 and 0.85, indicating a positive strong relationship. The results of this work show that MGRVI has a potential to be used as a correlation variable in studies that only use RGB sensors in order to monitor the nutritional and water status of crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands, is one of the main factors that limits avocado production worldwide; silicon as a defense inducer seems to be a viable strategy to integrate into the management of this disease. Hereby, the present study evaluated the induction of resistance with silicon in Hass avocado plants inoculated with P. cinnamomi , as a possible alternative to conventional agrochemical management. A potassium silicate solution (10 mL, 0.2 M expressed as SiO 2 ) was applied by irrigation, for ten days before inoculation with P. cinnamomi in Hass avocado plants. Leaf samples were taken at 3, 24, 144, and 312 h after inoculation with the pathogen. Peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes had their highest activity 3 h after pathogen inoculation (p < .05). There was a decrease in the activity of the enzyme phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL), in the content of total phenols, and the inhibition capacity of the DPPH ● radical, between 3 h and 24 h in the plants with the inducer and inoculated with P. cinnamomi (p < .05). The results suggest a beneficial effect of silicon as a defense inducer in Hass avocado plants, manifested in the activation of enzymatic pathways related to the regulation of oxidative stress and the synthesis of structural components. Therefore, the application of silicon as a defense inducer emerges as a strategy to include in the integrated management of the disease caused by P. cinnamomi in Hass avocado.

Avocado ( Persea americana Mill.) is a worldwide consumed fruit, with great interest for cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries; however, 30% of avocado fruits are bio-wastes (peels and kernels), converting them into a potential source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds. Therefore, the hydroethanolic extracts of peels and kernels of Persea america Mill. var. Hass were analysed regarding their individual phenolic profile by HPLC-DAD/ESI–MS and correlated with their antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Avocado by-products presented a very distinct phenolic profile, presenting higher concentration in peels (227.9 mg/g of extract for total phenolic content), mainly in (epi)catechin derivatives (175 mg/g of extract), followed by chlorogenic derivatives (42.9 mg/g of extract). In this study hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant assays were performed together for the first time in P. americana by-products, and although kernels showed a great antioxidant potential (EC 50 values ranging from 18.1 to 276 μg/mL), peels presented the highest potential (EC 50 ranging from 11.7 to 152 μg/mL), mainly due to the presence of phenolic compounds, and an overall better performance in the antibacterial assays. Further studies needs to be conducted to better understand the correlation between the presence of phenolic compounds and bioactivities, however, the main objective is to implement these biocompounds in different products and industries, due to results obtained, P. americana peels could be a great alternative in the substitution of synthetic antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]