臺灣龍眼(Euphoria longana Lam.）品種果實性状之變異

Abstract

Summary The variation of fruit characters among 52 longan varieties at different locations and years in Taiwan was investigated Most fruit characters studied were affected by different varieties, locations, and years. The effect was most significant in fruit weight. The variation of fruit characters of 107 samples measured was as follows. The fruit is light to dark yellow-brown. The aril is translucent white to light yellow. The seed is red brown to black brown. The mature season was from July to October. Most were harvested in August. Fruit weight ranged from 5.2 to 18.2 grams (mean=10.6 g), Seed weight ranged from 0.5 to 2.5 grams (mean=1.8 g). Soluble solids in aril ranged from 10.3 to 26.0% (mean=18.3%). Aril ratio in fruit ranged from 50.0 to 70.8 (mean-61.6%). Fruit size was significantly related to fruit weight, peel weight, peel weight and aril weight. The cultivar Feng Ko accounts for more than 80% of longan production in Taiwan. It is followed by Hong Ko and Ching Ko. Current problems confronting longan culture in Taiwan are: l) needs of varieties with large fruit, high yield and various mature season, 2) control of plant height to lower cost of management, 3) methods to control irregular bearing, and 4) methods of thinning to control fruit number per cluster.