Essential trace and macromineral distribution in 80 avocado cultivars of the USDA germplasm collection

Authors: REED, ALISON - University Of Central Florida; ELTAHER, SHAMSELDEEN - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE); Freeman, Barbara; Ali, Gul; BEAZLEY, MELANIE - University Of Central Florida

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/2/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Avocados are subtropical fruits widely recognized for their health benefits. Every year, people around the world consume around 11 billion pounds of avocados. They are not only a great source of healthy fats, fiber, and vitamins, but also contain a variety of minerals. Commonly found minerals include potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), which contribute to reduced cardiovascular risk, support bone health, and play key roles in metabolism, immune function, cell growth, and muscle development. Eighty avocado cultivars, which are maintained at the USDA Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in Miami were analyzed for 15 minerals (K, Mg, Ca, P, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, B, Co, Sr, Cr, Al, Ni, and Na) to identify nutrient-rich cultivars that are adapted to subtropical ecosystems. All these minerals demonstrated a wide range in concentration across all cultivars. K was the highest among all samples ranging from 64.4 to 3,100 mg per 100 g of fruit. Of the essential micronutrients, Fe was the highest ranging from 0.054 to 2.85 mg per 100 g of fruit. These analyses indicate that the USDA Miami avocado germplasm collection contains cultivars with a wide range of nutrient content that conform with the USDA Dietary Guidelines. These results provide valuable insights into the mineral contents of avocado germplasm, which will facilitate selection of parents for breeding nutrient-enriched avocado cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Avocado (Persea americana) is a tropical and subtropical fruit widely cultivated and consumed for its healthy unsaturated fats and a variety of micronutrients. Avocados have earned recognition by the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association for their natural abundance of potassium (K) that aids in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, avocados contain other macrominerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium that aid in bone health, and microminerals such as iron, copper, zinc, and manganese that support healthy metabolism, immunity, cell growth, and muscle function. In this study, 80 avocado cultivars were grown at the USDA Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in Miami and analyzed to identify nutrient-rich cultivars that thrive in subtropical ecosystems such as Florida. The fruit of five replicate avocados from each cultivar were acid extracted and analyzed for 15 minerals (K, Mg, Ca, P, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, B, Co, Sr, Cr, Al, Ni, and Na) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Each of the 15 minerals demonstrated a wide range in concentration across all cultivars. K was the highest among all samples ranging from 64.4 to 3,100 mg per 100 g of fruit. Of the essential micronutrients, Fe was the highest ranging from 0.054 to 2.85 mg per 100 g of fruit. The USDA recommends 2,000 – 3,400 mg K and 7 - 8 mg Fe per day, indicating that the USDA Miami avocado germplasm collection contains cultivars with a wide range of nutrient content that conform with the USDA Dietary Guidelines. The complete findings for all 15 minerals will be discussed in this presentation including detailed examination of the nutritional content of each cultivar. The data will be cross-referenced with the USDA recommendations for dietary guidelines with cultivars sorted into categories based on their mineral nutrient profile.