Avocado Plant Breeding.

I had though of creating a plant breeding program for Avocados as it is close to impossible to obtain quality varieties of Avocado plants locally.

Avocado Plant Breeding.

There are lots of questions in my mind. Which is the best variety? Which is the most suitable variety to grow locally. Which variety are most accepted by the local market? Or neighboring countries? Which variety has the longest shelve life? Which variety perform the best in logistic, like packaging, transportation etc and etc.

Avocado Hybridization.

As of last year I though of initiating a breeding program for long term production to produce a hybrid locally that can satisfy all the local needs. A personal Holy Grail of sort for Avocado. This shall takes up a very long time and I don't think I have the resources to even start it.

Avocado Trees In Plant Breeding.

Am shelving this project as I had found a place that is already doing this. They had already accumulated more than 30 years of experience and had already started to release their Hass Hybrid. I don't need to re-invent the wheel. I can just tag on to their research, learn & gain from them. I guess I only have to work on localizing their hybrid. This shall save us tremendous resources. Shall try to initiate contact & communication and hopefully work with them in the near future. Am very grateful to them letting me in to tour their facilities.

Hass Avocado.

The research center is located in a valley of about 640 meters, surrounded by hills of more than 860 meters. They are also blessed with black fertile soil, with water (stream). A comparison to our farm, ranging from 450 to 550 meters with red clayish soil and a stream at the bottom of the foot hill. I guess this should be adaptable and should not post too much of a challenge as we already have Avocados plants growing here, even Hass Avocado (from seeds).

Avocado.

I hope to make more trips here to further my understanding on Avocado and understand how hybridizing is carried out and share with all Avocado plant lovers.

While I was touring their facilities I notice other varieties like Pinkerton, Bacon, Fuerte & etc. Would love to get my hands on these too.

CrowdFunding In Farming, Project Hass Avocado.

We had recently concluded a project to acquire Grafted Hass Avocado plants via crowd funding. Crowd funding as described by Wikipedia

Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people, typically via the internet. One early-stage equity expert described it as “the practice of raising funds from two or more people over the internet towards a common Service, Project, Product, Investment, Cause, and Experience”
The crowdfunding model is fueled by three types of actors: the project initiator who proposes the idea and/or project to be funded; individuals or groups who support the idea; and a moderating organization (the "platform") that brings the parties together to launch the idea.

Some of the Grafted Hass Avocado plants that were bagged.

I took on the role of the project initiator, proposing that we come up with a fund, whereby I use this fund for the purpose of acquiring Grafted Hass Avocado plants. I proposed to come up with 10 "share". Each share for a certain amount qualify for 1 plants. Participant are welcomed to take up in more than 1 share.

Baby Avocado fruits.

This project was launched via our Face Book account Avocado & Fig Wholesale. & Avocados Lovers Malaysia. As there were only 10 shares, all were snapped up very quickly. We made it as a first registered, first served. Then followed by a waiting list. As it was a forward project, no funds were collected during the registration.

Grafted Avocado plants.

Grafted Avocado plants already flowering.

Arrangements / bookings were all made using my own funds. 2 weeks before departing, I contacted all the participants to transfer in their funds. Yes some could not make it due to various reasons and those on the waiting list were moved forward. Managed to collect all the funding 2 days before departure.

Upon arrival at destination, I made contacted with our supplier. Further arrangement were made, as I need to verify that the products are actually as described. Once it was verified, booking were paid. We then discussed on the packaging / timing of delivery and other logistic. Updated all participants.

Baby Avocado fruits.

D day for delivery, one final inspection, all payment sorted out and packing closed. Had a very smooth home coming. Contacted participants to make arrangement for collection.

Baby Avocado fruits.

Project concluded (almost, 1 participant had not response to the collection advise). Fulfillment done and completed successfully. Congratulation to all the participants as we are the first to acquire Grafted Hass Avocado plants via Crowdfunding.

This project gave us a very good experience and may gear us for bigger projects in the future.

Grafting Tools, First Trial.

Did a trial run on the grafting tool on on Rubber trees, Jackfruit Tree and Avocado last month. Checked on the grafting when I came back to the nursery. None of the Rubber trees & Jackfruit trees took. Only a small numbers of Avocado took.

Look like the Grafting tool is not an easy to use tool. I have to learn how to use it effectively & successfully. As it's my first time, I am playing around with it. I started off with the U blade as it came attached with the tool. Cutting a U on the scion is not as easy as it seems. There is no aiming and I usually missed the center while cutting the rootstock. Cutting the scion is much easier. While playing with it I realized that the pruning part may post a danger and may injure our fingers. Kindly take necessary precaution. Thank goodness I was not cut. Personally I would prefer the pruning part to be on another tool.

Grafting Avocado with a U blade grafting tool.

Avocado grafting, U join.

Rear view of the grafting tool.

Can I use the hole at the bottom to aim? When cutting on the rootstock, it could be an issue. I then turned it around and tried U "saddle". Inverted U on the rootstock.

Avocado, saddle U cut.

Avocado grafting Saddle U cut.

I then switch the blade to the Omega style. Blade switching, click here.

Omega Cut, saddle.

Omega cut, grafting of rubber tree.

Yes, for Omega, we can use it straight or saddle. For the Omega style, we have to slide in the scion from the side. If we were to push it in, it shall damage the 'O' part.

One side matching.

Not matching side.

Scion and rootstock of different size, we can only match i side.

While turning the bobbin  I was surprised to see that the mark of the U and Omega side by side.

Note the cut marks of U & Omega cut.

 I only realized that they are of different 'depth'. I took the  V blade to compare and it's at the same length of the U. I wonder why.

Finally, I decided to try the V blade. This is the style that I had the most reservation. I feel that it is difficult to wrap as the sides shall slip out when the sides are compressed.

V blade attached on the grafting tool.

Did a couple of Avocado graft. Again The V can be used straight or saddle.

Avocado V shape grafting.

I just did a couple of straight V. Shall try the saddle when I have the opportunity. Stay tune for my impression of the grafting tool, coming soon.

Grafting Scissor.

Bought a Professional  Grafting Scissor. Had wanted to buy this but had been putting it off for a while.

Simple packaging.

It comes with 3 blades, Omega, V & U blade. The blade can be used on both ends making an effective of 6 blades.

Instruction is pretty simple,

Instruction given on the rear.

 Hold grafting stock in the grafting tool and squeezes the handle to make the cut, repeat this to cut the stem o the donor plant.
Slide the donor plant stem into the stock plant, matching the cut surfaces as closely as possible. If the stock and donor is of different size, match 1 side only.
Place sterilizing material around the join and bind with tape. The sterilizing material shall protect against bacterial & weather.
There is also a top scissor to use for pruning.

Blade sliding down onto the orange catch.

 This professional grafting scissor is effective for soft / green wood. It can not be used with hardwood. Effective grafting diameter is about 15mm.

It is designed to have a vertical sliding down cut.

Sturdy handle.

It is light weight as it's mostly plastic. The handle looks sturdy and comes with a lock. Looking forward to test this on the Jackfruit, Avocado, Mangoes & Figs. Wondering if this shall helps in my grafting.

Australian Avocado.

Since I've not been able to source overseas avocado planting material, I've decided to try some out of seeds. Managed to get some seeds of Avocado from a friend. These were kept in the fridge. I collected them, had them skinned and dipped them in water. Shall try to bring these back to my nursery and have them germinated as soon as possible.

These seeds do look different from our Borneo Avocado.

Hopefully they can germinate.

I now have about 26 seeds of unknown varieties but of Australia origin. Am only guessing that these could be Hass. Hope to germinate as much of them as possible, plant them and make them grow fast.

Some of the seeds had cracked and roots growing.

Didn't expect these small seeds to sprout so soon.

Some seeds cracked into 2.

Had been away from our farm lately. Looking forward to my next trip as I've got many things in my head that I want to do at the farm.
 Just got in a second batch last night. Had them skinned and soak in water. Guess there are about 50 seeds.

Another batch of 50 Australian seeds.

 The more the merrier.

Seed Propagating Of Avocado.

Seed Propagating Of Avocado of a lazy farmer.
Decided to do a video for simple seed propagation and post it to Youtube. I find this method very simple and effective.

Simple Effective way of propagating avocado seeds

 Youtube link above.

Bed of avocado seeds.

Had collected many seeds and planted them on this raised bed over the past 3 weeks, starting from the far end. I guess easily more than 150 seeds. As I do not select the seeds and put in whatever that I can lay my hands on, quite a number will not germinate. So I needed a simple & effective method.

Those that were done earlier had started to split and I see some with germinating tip. Hope to see many Avocado-lets in May.

Some of the plant-let from the previous season.

Avocado Cuttings Trial 2.

Did a second trial for the Avocado cuttings.

This batch was bigger and more. I didn't pay to much attention on cutting selection as it's of no cost to me, but I do discard those that I feel that do not stand a chance, like section where there are no buds or new growth especially tip.

Started to use the rooting hormone liquid from Thailand, unfortunately has used up and have to use back the local available powder type. Should had bought more in Thailand.

I started off just sealing the top. I then apply more liberally on the tree dressing to seal up more of the cutting especially the side.

The other thing that I did was to increase the density.

 While I'm at it, I tried some mango cuttings too. Shall check back on these middle of May. I was figuring if this works, then I may have an alternative to propagate more planting materials.

Avocado Cuttings.

Previously from Propagating Avocado Cuttings.

Six weeks has passed, since I started the Avocado cuttings.

 Comparison

I guess more than half died.

Made a quick count, 60% died. More are dying but some is definitely growing.

I would say that this is encouraging and warrant further trial / study. My check on the internet says that successful rate is less than 20%. Am expecting more to died off. The weather at the present is super hot, plus no rain. Irrigation is also erratic.

Planning for a 2nd test before I go off end of this month. Am thinking of more ways to control and improve success.

Kindly do comment and share ideas to improve success rate. Or if there is another method of cutting propagation that you may want to test. Am open to all suggestion.

Rescue S. Avocado (Persea americana).

S. Avocado looking good.

Anothe S. Avocado looks great.

All of the S. Avocado looks good.

Checking on our members daily, with a break on Christmas.

S. Avocados looking strong.

The Israeli Pomegranate starting to bud.

Problem started after Christmas. Back from my Sandakan trip.

The scion of S. Avocado turned black, died.

It's spreading into the Avocado rootstock.

This got too bad that I had to give it up, as the scion had totally died and moving towards the rootstock. This #Avocado is a goner.

Sunday, 29th, as it was drizzling in the morning, I move the avocados to a dryer area in the nursery. Had them perch on some old wood like a parade.

Parading the S. Avocado for inspection.

As the drizzle is getting heavier, I sat there and check the Avocados. The Pomegranate had started to bud. My friend Edward had reported that his had signs of budding. Why are you gals not budding? Not happy, not comfy?

Fungus on the S. Avocado collar.

Collar rot, on the S.Avocado due to the sudden wet weather.

Too wet on the S. Avocado.

  As I was walking around, I saw signs of fungus. I immediately mix some fungicide and dose onto them. I then realized that due to the heavy rain every night, my friends maybe getting "wet feet".

Sudden change to too wet weather and insufficient drainage holes at the bottom of the poly bag, caused 'wet feet'.

Dig out 1 and got a confirmation. Immediately got to work, transferred all of them to the "pot", that I made out of pail. Since I'm at it, put some rooting hormone powder to their roots.

There wasn't much need roots growth on the S. Avocado.

The Pomegranate shows pretty much root growth.

To dry them off, I transferred them to the shed with roof, side afternoon sun about 1 pm onwards.

Grafted my Avocado on the dead S.  Avocado. Bye bye to S. Avocado.

The plant that I had to give up, I grafted my Avocado to the rootstock.

ICU for S. Avocado.

At my ICU. More patients coming in due to the bad weather (wet).

More are coming in. Avocado ICU.

This is what I'm worried about.

Daily heavy rain, too wet for the Avocados.

1 of the weaker plants was not seal off properly and caused some dehydration.

Note the edge, it wasn't seal properly.

Note the edge, and how the brown section spread from it. Re-seal it with more wax. Didn't work, died after a few days.

Grafting tape removed on the S. Avocado.

I noticed that they were tied at localized high pressure, causing the deep 'cut'. Is this more effective, as I do it differently, spreading out the pressure more evenly.

I feel the it looks ugly, but if it works, why not? Must try this out 1 day.

I didn't like the wat that the graft were tied, had it removed today. It's causing too much constriction. Had it wrap with cling wrap (keep fresh) and shall remove in a week or so.

Had some relieve today as I noticed the bud is growing on the stronger ones. Thank you. Guess it should flush in a week or so.

 Ten days had past, no changes. Watering them slightly every 3 days, just to keep the soil moist.

 Inspection day this morning. Watered with EM, fiolar spray. Gave them a bath with Tiram (fungicide). Notice more buds. Now just have to wait for them to push and flush. Decided to seal off more areas with wax to prevent dehydration and infection.

New buds, twins on S. Avocado.

New growth at the tip of the S. Avocado. The pouch is just to aid focusing.

The buds of the S. Avocado, were there previously, but now more green.

 Thank goodness, I almost lost faith there. What a joyous day. Now waiting for them to flush. Shall have more feedback after my Chinese New Year holidays.

 I name them Cat, Betty & Anne.