Effect of Avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd) on avocado yield in Michoacan, Mexico

The total yield of cv. Hass and Mendez avocado trees was evaluated in Grove 1 in Uruapan county: four trees were sunblotch-infected, four asymptomatic (molecularly positive), and four healthy. A further four healthy and four symptomatic trees were evaluated in Grove 2 in Tingambato county. There was a significant 75 % reduction in the total Hass fruit weight from symptomatic trees in Grove 1 (213 kg vs 751 kg in healthy trees) and a 52 % reduction (124 kg vs 255 kg) in Grove 2 (Tukey, p = 0.05). This reduction was more severe in Mendez: 83 % in Grove 1 (183 kg vs 1,053 kg) and 76 % in Grove 2 (82 kg vs 340 kg). Yield of asymptomatic trees was reduced to 58 % in Mendez and 30 % in Hass. The average weight of 100 fruits was reduced by 13–28 % in Hass and 20–27 % in Mendez in Groves 2 and 1 respectively. The equatorial diameter of 100 symptomatic fruits was 8 % lower in Hass in both groves, and 20–28 % lower in Mendez. The polar diameter decreased by 8–10 % in Hass and 10–11 % in Mendez. The incidence of symptomatic fruits was 46–62 % in Hass and 20–28 % in Mendez. Yield of ASBVd symptomatic Hass and Mendez trees was significantly reduced and fruit morphology negatively affected.