YOUR INDUSTRY
Lucia Romero is investigating the development of avocado diseases and their management alongside the NZ Avocado industry
Protecting the avocado industry through research Lucia Ramos Romero grew up in Granada, Spain – a province known for avocado production; and later spent time in Germany, researching cereal and vegetable crops. By Emma Smith : Plant & Food Research Ltd Lucia is now a scientist in the Epidemiology and Disease Management team at Plant & Food Research, investigating the development of avocado diseases and their management. She works alongside the New Zealand avocado industry to implement best practices in orchards and to support export growth. “I feel fortunate that my new home since 2017, New Zealand, is giving me the opportunity to reconnect with this fascinating fruit crop,” Lucia says.
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The ORCHARDIST : NOVEMBER 2021
Hass is the main avocado variety grown in New Zealand. It is a subtropical fruit grown in a temperate climate, which can bring challenges such as fruit rot diseases, which occur in many avocado-producing regions worldwide and can negatively affect quality and consumer satisfaction. “The fungi infect the fruit in the orchard, but symptoms normally appear once the fruit is collected and starts to ripen. This can make the management of rot diseases extremely challenging,” says Lucia.
