La University of La Laguna has taken an important step for the avocado sector in Spain when developing a genetic method capable of identifying plants more resistant to salinityThis technology focuses on avocados of the so-called West Indian race, known for better tolerating irrigation water with high salt content, an increasingly common problem in agricultural areas of the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean region.
The invention, which has already been presented as patent application to the Spanish Patent and Trademark OfficeIt is designed to allow nurseries, research centers, and producers to more reliably certify which rootstocks offer better salinity tolerance. This aims to reduce crop failures, yield losses and, ultimately, the economic impact associated with a poor choice of plants.
A growing problem in avocado farming
In regions like the Canary Islands, where some of the irrigation water comes from desalination plants or resources with high salt contentChoosing the right rootstock is not a minor detail, but a key condition for the viability of the plantation. Experience in recent years has shown that not all plants sold as tolerant perform the same way in the field.
Research has shown that West Indian avocados They tend to exhibit a better response to salinity than other horticultural varieties, such as the Mexican or Guatemalan. However, distinguishing one from another with complete certainty is not always easy, especially when there are hybridizations and genetic mixtures in the plant material sold.
Until now, many nurseries and farmers have been guided by morphological criteriaLeaf appearance, vigor, nursery performance, or other visible plant characteristics. This approach, while practical, does not guarantee genetic purity nor does it allow for accurate detection of whether a rootstock is truly West Indian or if it carries a significant proportion of other, less tolerant varieties.
The consequence of these identification errors is that the producer may invest in a supposedly resistant plantation and discover, after several seasons, that their trees cannot withstand the expected salinity. In this scenario, the method developed by the ULL is presented as a objective tool to reduce uncertainty and avoid unpleasant surprises in the medium term.
How the patented genetic method works
The Genetics team at the University of La Laguna has designed a biotechnological method that specifically identifies the Antillean genomic component in avocado rootstocks. The basis of the system are molecular markers developed from the study of so-called "jumping genes" or retrotransposons, mobile elements of the genome that have served to decipher the genetic complexity of the crop.
In 2022, researchers from ULL published in the journal Agronomy a first work in which they used these retrotransposons to generate new molecular markersThat research opened the door to differentiating the various horticultural varieties of avocado with much greater precision and laid the foundations for the technology that has now been incorporated into the patent.
Based on those results, the university filed the patent application under the title "Method, primers and kit for identifying specific genomic regions of horticultural avocado varieties"The protection of the invention includes both the analytical procedure and the necessary primers, and the possibility of packaging the technology into a kit ready for use in quality control laboratories.
The ULL proposal is also distinguished by its practical and accessible approachInstead of relying on complex or expensive genomic platforms, the method is based on standard PCR, a technique widely used in basic science laboratories. This allows nurseries, certification companies, or testing centers already working with DNA analysis to incorporate the technology without exorbitant investments.
According to the results later published in the journal International Journal of Molecular SciencesThe set of markers designed by the research team offers a absolute sensitivity to detect the West Indian raceFurthermore, it is able to identify potential hybrids, which helps to better classify plant material and determine the extent to which a rootstock retains the expected resistance to salinity.
Application in nurseries and certification of rootstocks
One of the strengths of this development is that it is designed specifically for the reality of the nursery and producer sectorThe method allows rootstocks to be analyzed before they are released to the market, so that the nursery can certify whether it is truly an Antillean variety or if there is significant hybridization with Mexican or Guatemalan varieties, which are usually less tolerant to salt.
This genetic certification offers farmers a information that is much more reliable than simple visual observationInstead of relying solely on the plant's appearance or the supplier's word, the grower can demand or obtain molecular analysis to support the "salt-resistant" label. In high-value crops like avocados, that difference can determine the future of the operation.
For nurseries, having this type of tool also represents an opportunity. The possibility of offering plants with certified genetic guarantee It becomes a powerful selling point and, at the same time, a way to minimize claims and conflicts arising from performance errors in the field. In an increasingly professionalized market, genetic traceability is becoming a competitive advantage.
The method not only helps to determine whether a plant is native to the Antilles or not; it also helps to detect and classify hybridsThis allows for progress towards more refined genetic improvement strategies. Identifying which breed combinations might offer a suitable balance between salinity resistance, vigor, and adaptation to different climates is an important step in diversifying the available options.
In territories such as Spain, Portugal or certain coastal areas of the Mediterranean, where woody crops coexist with limited water resources and often with irrigation waters with a certain degree of salinityHaving access to appropriate rootstocks becomes a strategic issue. The technology developed by the University of La Laguna (ULL) aligns with this need by providing a solid scientific basis for decision-making.
Scientific backing and institutional collaboration
The development of the genetic method does not arise from nothing, but is the culmination of a line of work initiated in 2022 by the team led by Doctors José A. Pérez Pérez and Mario A. González Carracedo, from the Genetics Department of the University of La Laguna. During these years, the group has generated high-impact scientific knowledge about the avocado genome and, at the same time, has directed that knowledge towards a specific application for the sector.
The patented technology is supported by at least two international publications, in Agronomy e International Journal of Molecular Sciences, which describe the development of new molecular markers and the validation of their ability to to accurately distinguish the Antillean raceThis combination of basic research and practical application has been one of the keys to the project.
To verify that the method works in real-world situations, the researchers have worked with a collection of avocado cultivars from external collaborationsSpecifically, they have used material provided by the Canary Islands Institute of Agricultural Research (ICIA-CSIC) and by the company Agro-Rincón SL, which has allowed them to test the tool on a wide range of genotypes present in the sector.
The project has also received institutional and financial support. funding from the Government of the Canary Islands has contributed to supporting the different phases of the research, while the Knowledge Transfer Office of the ULL has played a key role in processing the patent application and in the transfer strategy towards the productive sector.
With the application now published in the OEPM, the university is in a favorable position to Explore licensing agreements, collaboration with companies and potential projects for developing commercial kits. The idea is that the technology doesn't remain confined to the laboratory, but rather reaches those who can effectively benefit from it in the field.
Impact on agriculture in the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean
Beyond the scientific advancement, this invention has a direct potential impact on agriculture in the Canary Islands and from other areas with salinity problems. On islands where water resources are limited and the use of desalinated water has become a common solution, the choice of the right rootstock translates into years of difference in the lifespan of a plantation.
The ULL's genetic method fits with European and national strategies that seek improve the sustainability of agricultureIncreasing water use efficiency and strengthening resilience to climate change are key objectives. Reducing tree mortality, optimizing plant material, and avoiding failed investments are goals that align with both public policy and the needs of producers.
In a context where the avocado has become established as high economic value crop In Spain, and also as a significant contributor to water consumption, selecting rootstocks better adapted to challenging conditions can help to optimize resource use. It's not just about planting more, but about planting better, with a solid technical foundation.
For farmers, having a tool that provides certainty about the salt resistance of their plants can lead to questions new planting projects in areas where, until now, water salinity had raised concerns. At the same time, the nursery sector has an objective argument to differentiate itself by offering certified material.
The patent from the University of La Laguna places this institution in the vanguard of agri-food innovation linked to avocadoThis reinforces the role of public research in finding concrete solutions to everyday problems in agriculture. The development of this genetic method demonstrates how knowledge of the genome can be translated into practical tools that help plan safer plantations, protect investments, and adapt agriculture to increasingly demanding salinity conditions.
