Universidad Aut noma Chapingo Chapingo, Edo. Wild and semiwild gene pools of avocado are vital to locate desired genes for resistance to diseases and pests, as well as other characteristics that are apparently absent in the domesticated avocado gene pool. Deforestation has accelerated dramatically in the tropics. During the last two to three decades, due in part to deforestation, the native and semiwild avocado material has been disappearing rapidly.
Wild fires are a major cause of germplasm loss.
There is an urgent need to rescue this avocado germplasm before it is lost forever. Mexico has a large number of endemic species of Persea. There are at least 18 different species of Persea representing a large resource of avocado germplasm. The large number of species may be due to the great variability in environmental conditions present across the country and also due to the flowering behavior of the genus Persea. The flowering behavior is designed to maximize outcrossing, thereby increasing genetic variability.