Alternative technique for lychee flowering

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the municipality of Colatina -ES, Brazil, aiming at evaluating the flowering of lychee ( Litchi chinensis Sonn.) in response to the girdling of branches of different diameters, located in different parts of the plant canopy and in two seasons, October 2010 and March 2011. The girdling was also carried out in October, as an attempt to extemporaneous production of litchi. As the girdling in October produced no induction of flowering, the final analysis of the experiment outlined in randomized blocks was done in 4 x 4 factorial (quadrants x branches), with four replications and one tree as experimental plot. The girdling in isolated plants consisted of: girdling branches or main branches (8.0 to 10.0 cm in diameter), girdling branches from 6.0 to 7.9 cm in diameter, girdling branches with diameters of 4.0 to 5.9 cm, and without girdling (control), located in the southeast, southwest, northeast and northwest quadrants of the plant’s canopy. The amount and the length of the inflorescences and the percentage of flowering of lychee were evaluated in light of the girdling of branches and of the location of the quadrants in the canopy of the plants. It was observed that there was a difference between the amount of girdling in the variables for length and amount of inflores­cences, while the girdling of branches with 8 to 10 and from 6 cm to 7.9 cm in diameter were superior to the control in girdling of branches of 4 to 5.9 cm diameter. Concerning the position of the branches in the canopy (quadrants) it was discovered that the quadrants receiving less light (southeast and southwest) had more flowers and flowering percentages, but there was no significant difference for the variable length of the inflo­rescence according to the quadrants. The girdling of the branches can be an alternative to the insertion of hot climates in the production of lychee.