Research advances in the development of cold-tolerant avocados.

The breeding program at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) at the University of Florida, United States, is making progress in developing cold-tolerant avocados. Experimental lines can withstand temperatures between -8°C and -7°C. This result expands cultivation prospects in north-central Florida.

A strong cold wave in January 2026 served as a natural test for the materials under evaluation. The frost allowed for the identification of distinct levels of tolerance among the plants. Some of the trees retained green leaves after the weather event.

The work is led by associate professor of horticultural sciences José Chaparro. The program's objective involves the production of cultivars adapted to the region's winter, with a commercial standard of fruit quality.

Traditional commercial varieties exhibit low cold tolerance. The 'Hass' avocado, a global market benchmark, suffers damage at low temperatures. Antillean varieties grown in South Florida show damage near 0°C. Guatemalan-Mexican hybrids used in California face problems below -4°C.

Improvement program

The breeding program began operations in 2005. The strategy includes cultivating seedlings in the field during the winter. Direct exposure to natural events allows for the selection of more tolerant genotypes.

Over generations, the program has recorded larger fruits, higher oil content, and greater resistance to anthracnose, a fungal disease responsible for fruit rot. The team is seeking further progress in peel thickness and reduction of cracking during summer rains.

Current selections show characteristics similar to the Mexican group. Chaparro seeks material with attributes similar to 'Hass', including creamy pulp, high oil content, and dark skin during ripening.

Trials with growers are already underway in different regions of Florida. The group is identifying trees with greater cold tolerance. Future crossbreeding should combine this attribute with superior fruit quality.

Researchers point to a productive opportunity for the state. Water limitations affect producing areas in the western United States. Florida has available land and a reliable water supply. Advances in cold tolerance could expand the avocado cultivation frontier.