Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Persea (avocados) Phylogenetic Analysis Based on Morphological Characters: Hypothesis of Species Relationships

  • Published:
Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The genus Persea consists of two subgenera, Persea (known as avocados) and Eriodaphne (known as aguacatillos, avocado-like species). The present study aimed to determine whether the genus Persea is a monophyletic group and whether the division into two subgenera is an artificial one. In conjunction with these goals, a hypothesis of the phylogenetic relationships among Persea species is proposed. Our results suggest that Persea is not a monophyletic group. Two clades of Persea can be recognized. The results suggest that Eriodaphne and Persea should be considered to be independent genera. Various leaf and floral characters contributed for separation into groups. The definition of Eriodaphne is based on fruit color, sessile glands at the base of the stamens, vein prominence and leaf shape. Persea is more closely related to genera Nectandra and Ocotea than Eriodaphne. The 11 species included in Persea are recognized as species. The group is defined by fruit flavor, mature leaf color, number of tertiary divergent veins, and pubescent bracts in the inflorescence. Within this group, a clade of six species in which P. guatemalensis is included is recovered by seed shape, venation pattern relief, and number of fruits per cluster. Moreover, the seed shape supports the separation of P. floccosa and P. zentmyerii. A molecular character analysis is necessary to support the Persea clades proposed herein. Nevertheless the phylogenetic relationships revealed by this study provide new bases for the selection and conservation of the species Persea.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen C.K. (1945). Studies in Lauraceae. VI. Preliminary survey of the Mexican and Central American species. J. Arnold Arbor. 26: 282–434

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrientos P.A. and López L.L. (2000). Historia y genética del aguacate. In: Téliz, D. (eds) El Aguacate y su Manejo Integrado, pp 19–30. Mundi-Prensa, México D.F

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben Ya’acov A. 1992. A study of avocado germplasm resources, 1988–1990. II. Findings from the central part of México. Proc. Second World Avocado Congress, pp. 543–544

  • Bergh B.O. (1961). Breeding avocados at C.R.C. Cal. Avoc. Soc. Yrbk. 45: 67–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergh B.O. (1975). Avocados. In: Janick, J. and Moore, J.N. (eds) Advances in Fruit Breeding, pp 541–567. Purdue University Press, West Lafayette

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergh B.O. (1992). The origin, nature and genetic improvement of the avocado. Cal. Avo. Soc. Yrbk 76: 61–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergh B.O. (1993). Aguacates. In: Moore, J.N. and Janick, J. (eds) Avances en la Genotecnia de Frutales, pp 687–720. AGT Editor S.A, México D.F.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergh B.O. (1995). Avocado. Persea americana (Lauraceae). In: Simmons, N.W. (eds) Evolution of Crop Plants, pp 148–151. Longman Scientific & Technical, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergh B.O. and Bufler G. 1987. Avocado Genetic Resources: Final Report. GIARA B-14, 50 pp.

  • Bergh B.O. and Ellstrand N. (1987). Taxonomy of the avocado. Cal. Avoc. Soc. Yrbk. 70: 135–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergh B.O., Scora R.W. and Storey W.B. (1973). Bot. Gaz. 134: 130–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blake S.F. (1920). A preliminary revision of the North American and West Indians avocados (Persea spp.). J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 10: 9–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Borys M.W., Leszczyńska-Borys H., Ramírez-Marañon S. and Castro L. (1993). An avocado relative: Beilschmiedia anay (Blake) Kosterm. fruit source. Cal. Avoc. Soc. Yrbk. 79: 125–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Bufler G. and Ben-Ya’acov A. 1992. Study of avocado germplasm resources, 1988-1990. II. Ribosomal DNA repeat-unit polymorphism in avocado. Proc. Second World Avocado Congress II, pp. 545–550.

  • Bufler G. and Fiedler J. 1996. Avocado Genetic Resources: Final Report. GIARA B-14, 50 pp.

  • CICTAMEX. (1990). Descriptores para Aguacate. Fundación Salvador Sánchez Colín, CICTAMEX, S.C., Coatepec Harinas

    Google Scholar 

  • Clusius C. 1601. Rarioum Stirpum Historia1: 2 AntwerpiaPlantinus.

  • Davies J., Henderson D., Kobayashi M., Clegg M.T. and Clegg M.T. (1998). Genealogical relationships among cultivated avocados as reveled through RFLP analyses. J. Heredity 89: 319–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiedler J., Bufler G. and Bangerth F. (1998). Genetic relationships of avocado (Persea americana Mill.) using RAPD markers. Euphytica 101: 249–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furnier G.R., Cummings M.P. and Clegg M.T. (1990). Evolution of the avocados as related by DNA restriction fragment variation. J. Heredity 81: 183–188

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gama L. 1994. Studies on the systematics and ethnobotany of the subgenus Persea. Ph.D. Thesis, University of California at Riverside California.

  • Garcia A. and Ichikawa S. (1979). Cytogenetical studies in the genus Persea (Lauraceae). III. Comparative morphological study on 61 avocado strains. Japan J. Breeding 29: 66–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia A. and Tsunewaki T.H. (1977). Cytogenetical studies in the genus Persea (Lauraceae). I. Karyology of seven species. Can. J. Genet. Cytol. 17: 173–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Goloboff P.A. 1993. Nona (for Windows). Cladistics@.com.www.cladistics.com.

  • Hickey L. (1973). Classification of the architecture of dicotyledonous leaves. Am. J. Bot. 60: 17–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kopp L.E. (1966). A taxonomic revision of the genus Persea in the Western Hemisphere (Perseae Lauraceae). Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard. 14: 1–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Kostermans A.J.G.H. (1952). A historical survey of the Lauraceae. J. Sci. Res. 1: 83–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Litz R. 2001. Fusión de protoplastos en aguacate. In: Memorias Primer Congreso Mexicano – Latinoamericano de Aguacate. Uruapan, pp. 145–150.

  • Lorea F. and van der Werff H. 1997. Familia Lauraceae. Fascículo 56. Flora del Bajío y regiones adyacentes. Instituto de ecología A.C. Centro regional del BajíoPátzcuaro.

  • Lundell C.L. (1975). Studies of American plants, IX. Wrightia 5: 146–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Mez C. (1889). Lauraceae americane (monographice). J. Koenig. Bot. Gart. Berlin 5: 1–566, 1-3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meissner C.F. 1864. Lauraceae. In: Candolle A.D. (eds), Prodromus Systematic Naturalis Regni Vegetavilis. 15: 1–260.

  • Miller P. (1768). The Gardeners Dictionary, 8th ed. C. Rivington, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Nixon K.C. 2002. Winclada. Cladistics@.com.www.cladistic com.

  • Nees von E.F.C.G.D. (1836). Systema Laurinarum. Sumbitibus Veitii et sociorum, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Pliego-Alfaro F. and Bergh B.O. (1992). Avocado. In: Hammersersehla, A.A. and Litz, R.E. (eds) Biotechnology of Fruit Crops, pp 323–334. CAB International Publishing, Wallingford

    Google Scholar 

  • Popenoe W. (1941). Wild avocados. Cal. Avoc. Soc. Yrbk. 20: 184–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Popenoe W. and Williams L.O. (1947). The expedition to Mexico of October 1947. Cal. Avoc. Soc. Yrbk. 1947: 22–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes A.M., Malo S.E., Campbell C. and Carmer S.G. (1971). A numerical taxonomic study of the avocado (Persea americana Mill.). J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 96: 391–395

    Google Scholar 

  • Schieber E. and Bergh B.O. (1987). Cal. Avoc. Soc. Yrbk. 71: 199–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Schieber E. and Zentmyer G.A. 1972. Exploring for Persea in Latin America. Proceedings of the First International Tropical Fruit Short CourseThe Avocado. University of Florida, Gainesville, pp. 16–20.

  • Schieber E. and Zentmyer G.A. (1978). Hunting for Persea steyermarkii in the mountains of Guatemala. Cal. Avoc. Soc. Yrbk. 62: 67–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Schieber E. and Zentmyer G.A. (1981). Exploring for “Aguacate de mico” in Central America. Cal. Avoc. Soc. Yrbk. 65: 49–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Schroeder C.A. (1990). Useful fruits of avocado relatives. Calif. Avoc. Soc. Yrbk. 74: 243–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Scora R.W. and Bergh B.O. (1990). The origin and taxonomy of avocado (Persea americana Mill. Lauraceae). Acta Horticulturae 275: 387–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Scora R.W., Bergh B.O. and Hopfinger J.A. (1975). Leaf alkenes in Persearelated taxa. Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 3: 215–218

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scora R.W., Bergh B.O., Storey W.B. and Kumamoto J. 1970–1973. Three factor analysis of essential leaf oils in selected Persea species. Phytochemistry 9: 2502–2507.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scora W.R., Wolstenholme N.B. and Lav U. (2002). Taxonomy and botany. In: Whiley, W.A., Scaffer, B., and Wolstenholme, B.N. (eds) The Avocado: Botany, Production and Uses, pp 15–37. CAB International Publishing, Wallingford

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith C.E. (1966). Archaeological evidence for selection in avocados. Econ. Bot. 20: 169–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Standley P.C. (1920). Trees and Shrubs of Mexico. Contributions from the U.S.A. National Herbarium, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Standley P.C. and Steyermark J.A. 1946. Persea. In: Flora of Guatemala. Fielddiana Botany 24: 330–336.

  • Storey W.B., Bergh B.O. and Zentmyer G.A. (1987). The origin, indigenous rangeand dissemination of the avocado. Cal. Avoc. Soc. Yrbk. 70: 127–133

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Werff H. (2002). A synopsis of Persea (Lauraceae) in Central America. Novon 12: 575–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams L.O. (1950). Two new Perseas from Central America. Ceiba 1: 55

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams L.O. (1953). New Central American Plants. Ceiba 4: 39

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams L.O. (1977). Econ. Bot. 31: 315–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Zentmyer G.A. (1991). Aguacate de mico. Cal. Avoc. Soc. Yrbk. 73: 167–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Zentmyer G.A. and Schieber E. (1990). Persea tolimanensis: a new species for Central America. Acta Horticulturae 275: 386–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Zentmyer G.A. and Schieber E. 1992. Persea Phytophthora in Latin America. Proceedings of the Second World Avocado Congress, pp. 61–66.

  • Zentmyer G.A., Schieber E. and Popenoe W. (1987). Early history of the avocado during the time of the Conquistadones. S. Afr. Avoc. Growers Assoc. Yrbk 10: 11–12

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Fruticultura, Colegio de Postgraduados, Km 36.5 carr. México-Texcoco, Montecillo, 56230, Estado de México, México

    Eduardo Campos Rojas

  2. Programa de Botánica, Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, 56230, Estado de México, México

    Teresa Terrazas & Lauro López-Mata

Authors
  1. Eduardo Campos Rojas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Teresa Terrazas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lauro López-Mata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eduardo Campos Rojas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rojas, E., Terrazas, T. & López-Mata, L. Persea (avocados) Phylogenetic Analysis Based on Morphological Characters: Hypothesis of Species Relationships. Genet Resour Crop Evol 54, 249–258 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-005-3808-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-005-3808-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation