New work explains how avocado trees coordinate a complex reproductive strategy, switching every day between male and female
Goals.
I had a rudimentary knowledge of avocado flowering from being bored during COVID and growing a few avocado trees and watching some YouTube videos. I thought the male flowers opened in the morning and female opened in the afternoon. None of my plants have flowered yet, so I have not seen it in person. I didn’t realize the flowers actually changed sex. Quite interesting.
It’s called hermaphroditism. It especially happens when plants are stressed out. Climate change might be causing(exacerbating) this.
No. According to this article and this study no stress is involved for avocados. Climate change not a factor either, it was observed approx 100 years ago
Botanist A. B. Stout observed this reproductive strategy as early as 1927,
and check out the title of the actual study, link in the description
Balanced polymorphism in a floral transcription factor underlies the ancient rhythm of daily sex alternation in avocado
My arm feels sore right now because of climate change.
Living their best life
