Articles
An understanding into plant growth relationships in litchi ‘Shahi’ under plateau and hill region of eastern India
Article number
1211_12
Pages
87 – 92
Language
English
Abstract
The eastern plateau and hill region of India is emerging as a potential litchi producing zone of the country due to its suitable climatic conditions.
However constraints arising out of edaphic factors result in altered plant growth behavior of litchi in this agroclimatic zone of India.
Keeping this in view, efforts were made to develop a better understanding of growth and development of litchi plants of ‘Shahi’ under the eastern plateau and hill region of India.
Studies on flushing phenology indicated three major flushes after harvesting and maximum intensity of panicle emergence was recorded in third flush, emerged during the month of December (53.9-59.4%). Studies on shoot growth pattern of flowering and non-flowering shoots indicated complete cessation of shoot elongation of 2nd flush for about six weeks before initiation of third flush in case of flowering shoots whereas in case of vegetative shoots, the duration of growth cessation was only for two weeks.
Studies on correlation between intensity of panicle emergence and the content of different biochemicals in the shoot at different stage of growth indicated a significant correlation.
The positive correlation was found between intensity of panicle emergence and content of carbohydrate (r=0.47) and tryptophane (r=0.74) in the previous season flush and carbohydrate in second flush (r=0.47) in case of shoots sampled during last week of November.. Among the morphological parameters, significantly positive and similar correlations were recorded between intensity of panicle emergence and shoot diameter of second flush (0.448) whereas the correlation with number of leaves in the second flush was not significant.
Studies on dynamics of shoot radial growth of different flushes during fruit development showed reduced growth of first flush along with maximum reduction in the content of carbohydrate in the first flush (46.36%) which hinted at maximum utilization of carbohydrate by developing fruits from the first growth flush after harvest.
The maximum correlation between the content of carbohydrate in different flushes and bunch weight was recorded in case of first flush at 50 days after fruit set whereas in other flushes the correlation was not significant.
This indicated the criticality of the first flush for fruit growth in litchi.
Further, studies on source-sink relationship indicated significant contribution of assimilate from current photosynthesis for partial fulfillment of total carbon demand of growing litchi fruits.
However constraints arising out of edaphic factors result in altered plant growth behavior of litchi in this agroclimatic zone of India.
Keeping this in view, efforts were made to develop a better understanding of growth and development of litchi plants of ‘Shahi’ under the eastern plateau and hill region of India.
Studies on flushing phenology indicated three major flushes after harvesting and maximum intensity of panicle emergence was recorded in third flush, emerged during the month of December (53.9-59.4%). Studies on shoot growth pattern of flowering and non-flowering shoots indicated complete cessation of shoot elongation of 2nd flush for about six weeks before initiation of third flush in case of flowering shoots whereas in case of vegetative shoots, the duration of growth cessation was only for two weeks.
Studies on correlation between intensity of panicle emergence and the content of different biochemicals in the shoot at different stage of growth indicated a significant correlation.
The positive correlation was found between intensity of panicle emergence and content of carbohydrate (r=0.47) and tryptophane (r=0.74) in the previous season flush and carbohydrate in second flush (r=0.47) in case of shoots sampled during last week of November.. Among the morphological parameters, significantly positive and similar correlations were recorded between intensity of panicle emergence and shoot diameter of second flush (0.448) whereas the correlation with number of leaves in the second flush was not significant.
Studies on dynamics of shoot radial growth of different flushes during fruit development showed reduced growth of first flush along with maximum reduction in the content of carbohydrate in the first flush (46.36%) which hinted at maximum utilization of carbohydrate by developing fruits from the first growth flush after harvest.
The maximum correlation between the content of carbohydrate in different flushes and bunch weight was recorded in case of first flush at 50 days after fruit set whereas in other flushes the correlation was not significant.
This indicated the criticality of the first flush for fruit growth in litchi.
Further, studies on source-sink relationship indicated significant contribution of assimilate from current photosynthesis for partial fulfillment of total carbon demand of growing litchi fruits.
Authors
B. Das, V. Nath, M.K. Dhakar
Keywords
litchi, shoot growth flushing, panicle emergence, assimilate partitioning
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