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Title: DECEMBER PRUNING OF VEGETATIVE FLUSHES AFFECTS FLOWERING OF 'KAIMANA' LYCHEE IN HAWAII

Author
item NAGAO, MIK - UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
item HOA, ELODIE - UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
item NISHINA, MELVIN - UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
item Zee, Francis

Submitted to: Hawaiian and Pacific Agriculture
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2000
Publication Date: 4/20/2000
Citation: Journal for Hawaiian and Pacific Agriculture, vol. 11, 2000, pgs 17 - 19.

Interpretive Summary: Lychee is a subtropical fruit tree that requires a period of dormancy for flower induction. The dormancy is normally induced by a period of cold temperatures. In Hawaii, the lack of a consistent period of cold temperature during winter resulted in off season vegetative growth which reduced flowering and production. Removal of the off season flushes in the early stage resulted in a significant increase in the number and production of inflorescence on the pinched branches.

Technical Abstract: Vegetative flushing in late autumn and early winter is associated with irregular flowering of lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn) trees during spring and can result in inconsistent yields. This study was conducted to determine if pruning of vegetative flushes emerging on 'Kaimana' lychee trees in early winter could enhance spring flowering. Results of this study showed that vegetative flushing during the winter reduced flowering of 'Kaimana' trees and that pruning of young flushes, which emerged during early December, stimulated flowering. Pruning of emerging vegetative flushes significantly increased the number of panicles developing on trees in February compared to trees on which flushing branches were left unpruned. Pruning also increased the number of panicles developing on each pruned branch by stimulating the production of multiple inflorescences from nodes located immediately below the pruned terminal.