Avocado Genome Paper Published in G3

Feb 15, 2023·
Edwin Solares
Edwin Solares
· 1 min read
blog

Our paper “Insights into the domestication of avocado and potential genetic contributors to heterodichogamy” was published in G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics.

Key Achievement

Created first comprehensive reference genome for Gwen avocado cultivar with:

  • N50 of 3.37 megabases
  • BUSCO score of 91%
  • 12 pseudo-chromosomes containing 49,450 genes

Key Finding

The commercially dominant Hass avocado variety originated from Guatemalan ancestry, with evidence for three separate domestication events over 1 million years ago.

Media Coverage

  • SDSC News: “Avocado Genome is at the Center of New Study”
  • UC San Diego Today: University-wide feature
  • HPCwire: “SDSC Supports Breakthrough Study Revealing Gwen Avocado’s Genomic Diversity”
Publication Research Genomics
Edwin Solares
Authors
Edwin Solares (he/him)
Lecturer in Computer Science & Data Science
I am a computational biologist and data scientist bridging artificial intelligence, evolutionary genomics, and climate-resilient agriculture. My research leverages cutting-edge machine learning and bioinformatics to address global food security challenges in the face of rapid climate change. With publications in high-impact journals including Nature Plants, PNAS, and Genome Research (h-index: 7), I develop tools and methods that advance both computational science and real-world applications.