Guangxi Researchers Develop 2 New Avocado Varieties for Local Cultivation

Recently, China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced the first batch of authorized new plant varieties for 2025. On the list were two avocado varieties named Tenglong (腾龙) and Zijin (紫金) independently developed by the Guangxi South Subtropical Agricultural Sciences Research Institute.

Avocados were added to China’s list of protected new plant varieties in 2021. Tenglong and Zijin are China’s first avocado varieties for which plant variety protection rights have been applied for and obtained, marking a significant step toward reducing China’s dependence on imported avocados. Both varieties are notable for their early maturation: Zijin and Tenglong can be harvested as early as July and September, respectively. Compared with the typical domestic harvest season, which begins in October, these new varieties are intended to help fill the gap in early- and mid-season supply and effectively extend the overall domestic supply window.

Avocado cultivation in China has long relied on a single variety — Hass, originally developed in California and widely cultivated in Mexico. However, Hass has shown inconsistent performance under China’s growing conditions and is not well adapted to the climate of Guangxi. As early as 1956, the Guangxi South Subtropical Agricultural Sciences Research Institute began experimenting with avocado cultivation, selecting superior varieties and researching high-yielding cultivation techniques. Over the past seven decades, the institute has collected and preserved 485 avocado germplasm resources. Developed since 1987, the Tenglong and Zijin varieties offer flavor profiles comparable to imported avocados, along with high yields and strong economic potential, making them well suited for cultivation in Guangxi.

Zijin flowers from early March to mid-April and bears elliptical fruit with an average weight of 623 grams. The fruit has an edible flesh content of 80%, a total soluble solids content of 13.5% and a dry matter content of 22%. The skin is smooth — green when fresh, turning medium purple as the fruit ripens. The flesh has a fine texture and a mildly sweet, pleasant flavor.

Tenglong flowers in March and produces elliptical fruit with an average weight of 512 grams. It has an edible flesh content of 79%, containing 0.84 grams of protein, 9.23 milligrams of vitamin C, 1.54 grams of total sugar and 14.6 grams of fat per 100 grams of flesh, along with 5.6% total soluble solids. The skin is smooth — medium olive green when fresh, turning yellow-green when ripe. The flesh has a fine texture, and this variety is noted for its high yield and consistent performance.

By the end of 2024, Zijin and Tenglong had been tested for commercial cultivation across more than 330 hectares of land across Guangxi, in cities such as Chongzuo, Nanning and Baise. The research team is currently focused on developing cultivation techniques tailored to local conditions and exploring better post-harvest preservation methods for avocados.

Images: Guangxi Radio and Television (main image), Guangxi South Subtropical Agricultural Sciences Research Institute (body images one and two)

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.