Our avocado trees have full traceability. A unique number is assigned to every nursery tree when a seed is planted.
This unique number follows the tree through its life in the nursery until being dispatched to the grower. The unique number allows us to collect vital information on each source material used in the production of a nursery tree.
The production of a clonal avocado tree uses plant material from 3 separate source trees – seed, root stock, and scion source trees. Due to the risk of Avocado Sunblotch Viroid disease (ASBVd) being spread in the production of nursery trees, we have individually labelled every source tree that we draw propagation material from. These trees we test for ASBVd annually (ANA requires trees to be tested at least once every 3 years).
With unique numbers, we can at any point find the individual seed, root stock and scion source trees used in the production of each of our nursery trees. This allows us to further eliminate potential Avocado Sunblotch Viroid diseased trees from our nursery, giving us further confidence that we are providing quality, disease free trees.
Avocado Sunblotch Viroid disease (ASBVd) effects the yields and fruit quality of avocado trees. It is spread in several ways: through the use of infected propagation material in nurseries (seed and grafting material); through the use of pruning tools; and through orchard trees root grafting.
There is no treatment for infected trees. There are only preventative practices to ensure it does not spread. Firstly, when establishing orchards, source clean trees from ANA accredited nurseries such as our own. Secondly, disinfect any pruning equipment between use to ensure you do not spread ASBVd that may be present. And lastly, remove any trees showing symptoms of ASBVd in your orchards.
According to studies, ASBVd can decrease an infected trees yields by up to 90% (Zwane et al., 2023). Due to the severity in yield loss in infected trees, our nursery developed our traceability system to assist in further eliminating ASBVd in the Avocado industry.
