Girdling as a Means of Shortening the Juvenile Period of Avocado Seedlings

Shortening the juvenile period is highly important for fruit tree breeding projects. Four girdling dates were tested in an attempt to shorten the juvenile period in 9 crosses of 3-year-old avocado ( Persea americana Mill.) seedlings. Early September girdling was more effective than later or no girdling. It increased flowering intensity significantly, increased the percentage of seedlings that set from 15% to 66%, and increased 7-fold the number of fruits harvested per seedling as compared with the ungirdled control.