Cultivar-Specific Differences in C6 and C7 Sugar Metabolism During Avocado Ripening: Comparative Insights from Bacon, Fuerte, and Hass

Avocado is a unique fruit in which of seven-carbon (C7) sugars (notably <i>D</i>-mannoheptulose and perseitol) dominate the carbohydrate profile at harvest. Despite growing interest in sugar-mediated ripening processes, limited comparative data exist across cultivars. This work characterises the dynamic changes in non-structural carbohydrates in the mesotecarp of three commercially relevant avocado varieties-<i>Bacon</i>, <i>Fuerte</i>, and <i>Hass</i>-across four defined ripening stages, from unripe to overripe, with five biological replicates per stage. Using a validated hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS) method, we quantified five key sugars and assessed their evolution through ripening. Concentrations varied among the studied samples within the following ranges: <i>D</i>-mannoheptulose, 0.4-49 mg/g dry weight (DW); perseitol, 0.5-23 mg/g DW; glucose, 0.8-5.3 mg/g DW; fructose, 0.6-4.5 mg/g DW; and sucrose, 0.5-3.4 mg/g DW. C7 sugar levels consistently declined, while C6 sugars increased-primarily between the intermediate and ready-to-eat stages-with distinct cultivar-specific patterns. <i>Bacon</i> maintained elevated C7 concentrations for a longer period; <i>Fuerte</i> exhibited a rapid transition from C7 to C6 sugars; and <i>Hass</i> displayed a more gradual and balanced shift. Multivariate analysis (partial least squares discriminant analysis, PLS-DA) effectively discriminated between cultivars at each ripening stage, confirming cultivar-specific metabolic signatures. These findings offer new insights into avocado carbohydrate metabolism, emphasising variety-dependent pathways that could inform breeding strategies, optimise postharvest ripening protocols, and support the nutritional characterisation of different avocado cultivars.