Articles
A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND FRUIT QUALITY OF A VERY EARLY SEASON LITCHI STRAIN ‘9919’
Article number
1029_30
Pages
253 – 258
Language
English
Abstract
A very early season litchi strain 9919, derived from seedlings of the cultivar 991, was selected by the Litchi Selection and Breeding Group of the South China Agricultural University.
Based on preliminary evaluation, mid-term evaluation and orchard planting of the strain, the biological characteristics such as phenology, shoot growth, flowering, fruit set and so on were observed and main economic characters were evaluated.
This strain exhibited a distinguished early season character with 10 to 15 days earlier maturity than that of Sanyuehong. The shoots grew vigorously.
After pruning after harvest, bearing trees had 3 to 4 flushes and each flush growth period was around 30 days.
Young trees flushed 6 to 7 times per year with an average growth period of 45 days.
A low chilling requirement for flower bud differentiation in 9919 was observed.
Diurnal temperatures of 25/18°C (day/night), maintained for 7 days, met the demand for flower bud differentiation in 9919. Yielding commenced in four-year-old 9919 grafted seedlings and two years later trees came into full bearing with moderate flower numbers and high fruit setting.
The blooming and fruit setting period of 9919 lasted for about 30 days from early January to early February.
The average yield per tree of five-year-old trees could reach 15.8 kg.
The fruit showed good appearance and commodity quality, for example heart-shaped (fruit shape index 1.04), average single fruit weight 22.93 g, uniform and scarlet pericarp color, crisp flesh, and a pleasant sugar to acid ratio.
In summary, 9919 litchi had a good cultivation adaptability and high economic value, and it is worth to release it in early season production areas.
Based on preliminary evaluation, mid-term evaluation and orchard planting of the strain, the biological characteristics such as phenology, shoot growth, flowering, fruit set and so on were observed and main economic characters were evaluated.
This strain exhibited a distinguished early season character with 10 to 15 days earlier maturity than that of Sanyuehong. The shoots grew vigorously.
After pruning after harvest, bearing trees had 3 to 4 flushes and each flush growth period was around 30 days.
Young trees flushed 6 to 7 times per year with an average growth period of 45 days.
A low chilling requirement for flower bud differentiation in 9919 was observed.
Diurnal temperatures of 25/18°C (day/night), maintained for 7 days, met the demand for flower bud differentiation in 9919. Yielding commenced in four-year-old 9919 grafted seedlings and two years later trees came into full bearing with moderate flower numbers and high fruit setting.
The blooming and fruit setting period of 9919 lasted for about 30 days from early January to early February.
The average yield per tree of five-year-old trees could reach 15.8 kg.
The fruit showed good appearance and commodity quality, for example heart-shaped (fruit shape index 1.04), average single fruit weight 22.93 g, uniform and scarlet pericarp color, crisp flesh, and a pleasant sugar to acid ratio.
In summary, 9919 litchi had a good cultivation adaptability and high economic value, and it is worth to release it in early season production areas.
Authors
F.C. Hu , X.H. Wang, R. Ouyang, H.C. Wang , G.B. Hu
Keywords
Litchi chinensis Sonn., ‘9919’ strain, very early season maturity
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