Morpho-biochemical characterization of a unique avocado (Persia americana Mill.) accession PA-026 (IC0644455)

Abstract

A unique avocado accession PA-026 (IC0644455) bearing yellow colour fruits was identified and evaluated for morphological and biochemical parameters. The accessions PA-026 characterise as yellow coloured pulp, young shoots and leaf midribs, fruit weight (398.3 g), pulp weight (255.38 g), seed weight (92.35 g) and peel thickness (1.43 mm). The biochemical profiling showed that, it has high carotenoid content (7.17 mg/100 g), total phenols (102.24 mg GAE/100 g), FRAP activity (87.32 AEAC/100 g) and high β-carotene (3.85 μg/g) followed by α-carotene (1.03 μg/g), while, fatty acid profile showed presence of five fatty acids, among which oleic acid (52.11%) and palmitic acid (41.56%) were most dominant. In conclusion, avocado accession PA-026 was found unique with respect to yellow fruit, pulp colour, and high carotenoid content especially β-carotene, which could be used to improve the carotenoids content in avocado through breeding.