Generative traits of litchi (Litchi × chinensis Sonn.) cultivars in Shiwalik foothills of North-West Himalayas

Abstract

Full-bearing litchi trees (20-year-old) of five cultivars, namely, Early Large Red (ELR), Dehradun, Calcuttia, Rose Scented (RS) and Seedless Late (SL) were examined for cropping behaviour, flowering, fruit yield and quality traits in the Shiwalik foothills of north-west Himalaya. The findings revealed a significant difference between cultivars in terms of growth indices, flowering, fruiting and fruit quality traits. Dehradun had the highest trees spread, with corresponding values of 35.2, 18 and 14 per cent in SL, RS and ELR. In most cultivars, flower bud differentiation began in December and finished in the first week of February cultivar. ELR documented the earliest to bud burst. Maximum fruit set was recorded in Dehradun followed by ELR when compared to SL and Calcuttia. In terms of deviation from optimum percentage (DOP) indexing, ELR, Dehradun, and Calcuttia exhibited positive values for leaf N, P, and K except SL and RS, where it was negative for leaf N and K contents.