THE ORIGINS AND TAXONOMY OF AVOCADO (PERSEA AMERICANA) MILL. LAURACEAE

The genus Persea is of African-Laurasian origin, with the subgenus Eriodaphne originating in Africa and with the subgenus Persea probably also originating in Africa, entering south-west Laurasia, and then rafting to its present position with tropical North America.
The various taxa in the subgenus Persea are discussed briefly.
Our systematic evidence is based on analyses of isozymes, leaf terpenes, morphology, physiology, and field observations.
Contrary to classification suggestions that identify either the Mexican or the Guatemalan horticultural race as botanically distinct from the other race plus the Lowland (West Indian) jointly, the preponderant evidence favors classifying all three races as equidistant botanical varieties.
These three varieties then become Persea americana var. americana Lowland ("West Indian"), var. drymifolia (Mexican) and var. guatemalensis (Guatemalan). The Lowland (West Indian) variety appears to be the most distinct of these three races. Persea nubigena, steyemarkii and floccosa appear to merit ranking as further varieties.
Variety nubigena probably is ancestral to var. guatemalensis. Persea schiedeana, however, does appear to merit separate species standing.

International Symposium on the Culture of Subtropical and Tropical Fruits and Crops

Rainer W. Scora, B. Bergh

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1990.275.47