Volume 47 Number 2 Article 4
Year 1993 Month 4
Title: Evaluation of Lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) Cultivars
Authors: E.C. Winston and P.J. O'Farrell
Abstract:
Thirty-eight lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)
cultivars were evaluated between 1970-1991 on
the Atherton Tableland of North Queensland
for regularity of cropping, yield, and fruit
characteristics.
Fruit were harvested between early Novem
ber and late January.
Mean annual yields ranged
from < 0.1 to 58 kg/tree. 'Bengal' (58 kg/tree),
'Haak Yip' group (23), 'Souey Tung' (19) and
Tai So' group (27) were the heaviest croppers.
Neither minimum monthly temperatures, devia
tion from normal minimum, number of days
within minimum < 12°C, or heat units during
June, July or August (winter) appeared related
to yield, although all cultivars failed to crop in a
year of no winter cold period when daily
minimum temperatures were 1.1, 2.3 and 1.2°C
above normal in June, July And August respectively.
Mean fruit weights ranged from 11.3 g
('Groff) to 34.2 g ('Chacapat'), with 9 lines i.e.
'Bengal,' 'Brewster,' 'Chacapat,' 'Fay Zee Siu,'
'Kiamana,','Peerless,' 'Sampao Kaow, 'Sang' and
the 'Tai So' group averaging > 20 g.
Three cul
tivars, 'Kiamana,' 'Kwa Lok' and 'Salathiel' gave
> 752j flesh recovery. 'Salathiel' consistently dis
played > 90% "chicken tongue" (aborted seed).
Recommended early cultivars are: 'Souey
Tung,' 'Fay Zee Siu' (Synonym-'Yook Ho Pow')
and 'Tai So,' mid-season: 'Haak Yjp,' 'Kwai Mai
Pink'; and late season: 'Wai Chee,' 'Luk Lai' and
possibly 'Salathiel.'
Full text download: APS subscribers
ISHS members & pay-per-view
(PDF 976807 bytes)
APS membership administration
ISHS membership administration
