The most ancient evidence of the existence of the avocado tree (Persea americana, Lauraceae) in Mesoamerica is about 10,000 years ago in Coaxcatlan, Puebla (Mexico). Since then, the history of the avocado has been preserved and recorded in Mesoamerica, the domestication center for the species, and in northern South America, where pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican cultures dispersed it. In colonial times, the Spanish valued the avocado fruit highly and documented it in numerous texts. Since then, the avocado tree has been introduced into places where the climate is appropriate for its cultivation. Avocado is now the fourth most important tropical fruit in the world, and Mexico is the main producer, with more than one million metric tons produced in 2005. Resumen. La evidencia más antigua de la presencia del aguacate (Persea americana, Lauraceae) en Mesoamérica es de hace 10,000 años, en Coaxcatlán, Puebla (México). Desde entonces, la historia del aguacate ha sido documentada en Mesoamérica, su c...

Origin of West Indian avocado has been explained by current-day factors, such as abundance patterns; however, it is still unclear where it originated. Anyhow, there is a history behind the species that reflects, in one way or another, the present geographic distribution and species characteristics. We examined paleohistorical and paleoecological data to explore the West Indian avocado origin. Our results suggest that West Indian avocado originated by domestication and ecological adaptation in the Maya Lowland area; this is where this botanical variety of avocado has an ancient history.