At Micro Paradox, we’re passionate about advancing plant propagation methods to provide high-quality, reliable young plants to growers. One of our latest focuses has been on developing clonal avocado rootstock, a project that combines our tissue culture expertise with a commitment to innovation. Today, we’d like to take you inside our lab and give you a high-level view of this exciting process.

The Journey Begins: From Cultures to Rootstocks

Developing clonal avocado rootstock is no small feat. Unlike traditional propagation, which has its own challenges, cloning avocado rootstock through tissue culture requires precise protocols, specialized media, and rigorous environmental controls. We started this journey in Q3 of 2022, with a vision to create consistent, high-quality rootstocks that would benefit avocado nurseries looking for dependable planting material.

The Process: A Blend of Science and Innovation

Our process starts with establishing stable cultures of popular rootstock cultivars like Toro Canyon, Duke 7, Zutano, and others. Once these cultures are stable, we work on fine-tuning their growth rates and developing a rooting protocol specific to each variety. In the lab, we carefully monitor the plants at every stage to ensure that they meet our standards for quality and health.

The journey from culture initiation to rooted plant is a multi-step process that requires both patience and precision. Each cultivar responds differently to tissue culture techniques, so we adjust protocols to maximize rooting success and prepare the plants for the transition to a greenhouse environment. It’s a fascinating balance of science and adaptation, where each step builds on the last to ensure robust, healthy plants.

What’s Next: Growing Toward Production

Currently, we’re in the weekly multiplication phase, where we scale up production of these rootstocks for larger-scale evaluation. We’re excited about the progress so far, but the process is still evolving. With each cycle, we refine our techniques and adapt our methods to improve rooting and acclimation success.

Our goal is to have fully propagated units ready for evaluation within the next few months. We’re looking forward to seeing how these young avocado plants perform in nurseries, helping growers with dependable rootstocks that support stronger, more productive trees.

The Value of Clonal Rootstock

Why go through this complex process? Clonal rootstock offers significant advantages over seed-grown plants. Clonal plants provide consistent genetic traits, which is invaluable for nurseries looking for reliable growth patterns, disease resistance, and uniformity. By providing high-quality clonal rootstocks, we’re helping growers support healthy orchard development from the ground up.

Looking Forward

Developing clonal avocado rootstock is just one example of our commitment to plant propagation innovation. We’re excited to continue this journey, knowing that each rooted plant contributes to a more robust and reliable supply chain for avocado growers. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue refining our processes and expanding our production capabilities.