How to Plant Lychee

How to Plant Lychee

 The plant reaches 10 to 12 meters high and has a tendency to develop targeted branches to the ground. The root system of plants originated from seeds, root pivot has a large (virtually absent in the vegetative originated by processes), and the absorbent roots are distributed in the soil profile to a depth of 1.0 meters. The leaves are alternate and compound, the number of leaflets varies from 2 to 12. The inflorescence is panicle, produced in the year field and composed of hundreds of small white flowers. Normally, the bloom begins in winter ends the early spring, and there are three types of flowers that open consecutively in the same panicle:
Flower type I: functionally male
Flower Type II functionally female
Flower type III: functionally male
The fruit is a drupe of variable shape and size, depending on the cultivar; can be round, oval or cordiform and reach up to 5 cm long by 4 cm wide; the weight can vary from 10 to 35 g. The bark is bright red (when ripe), thin, leathery and brittle. The pulp is normally white and translucent. The seed is brown-bright, about the size of l0 to 18% of the fruit. It can seed abortion occurs, the so-called "tongue-in-chicken", which does not greatly decreases the size of the fruit, which become preferred because they have a higher percentage of pulp.
How to Plant Lychee: Dissemination and Nutritional Value
The spread of the culture of litchi happened recently, and has been cultivated for centuries in China, home region, where it was brought to India and other regions. Currently, the largest producers are China, Thailand, India, United States (Florida and Hawaii) and Nepal.
The fruit is rich in minerals and vitamins, containing by l00g pulp: water (82 g), calories (65), protein (0.8 g), fat (0.4g), carbohydrates (l6,3g), fibers (0 , 2g), Ca (l0mg), P (29mg), Fe (0.3mg), Na (3 mg), K (l70mg), thiamine (0.50mg), Riboflavin (0,60mg), Niacin (0.6mg ) and Vitamin C (50mg).
How to Plant Lychee: Varieties
They can cite numerous varieties of litchi, which are defined by observing the following: maturation period, plant vigor, shape, size and color of leaves, productivity, shape, size, texture and color of the fruit skin, texture and aroma pulp, seed size and percentage of occurrence of "aborted seed" (language-of-chicken) Martins (1992).
According to Donadio (1987), the most planted varieties are Chinese, including the best known 'Brewster'; but are also used Indian varieties selected, Hawaiian and South Africa. In China, there are the Brewster varieties (Chen Purple), 'Kwai Mi', 'Hak Ip', 'No Mai Tez' and 'Chi Wai' . In India, it has been varieties 'Calcutta' 'Dehra', 'Dun', 'Large Early Red', 'Early Seedless' HONH Kong "," Late Seedless 'Mazzaferpur' 'Rose Santed' 'Saharampur', 'l Seedless' and '2 Seedless'. In Hawaii, we have the 'Groff', the 'Charley tong' and 'Hilo'. In South Africa, we have the 'Mauritius'. In Brazil, from seeds brought from the United States, it selected a variety to 'Americana'que probably the Chinese variety known as' No Mai Tse'.
The main varieties grown in the subtropics are: 'Bengal', 'Brewster', 'Mauritius', 'Sweet clift', 'American' and 'Groff'.
Bengal
Early ripening, the plant has moderate force. The fruits are cordate (heart-shaped), with an average weight of 21 g, bright red color, firm flesh and good quality and 65% of the fruit, large seed and about 20-35% of abortions.
Originated seed and selected Florida from the Indian variety Purbi. The lamina of the leaflets are great with slight wave. The plant is vigorous and has irregular fruiting.
Brewster
Earlier maturation that 'Bengal', vigorous upright plant growth. The fruits are elliptical, with an average weight of 23 g, bright red color, soft pulp, of acceptable quality, about 74%, acid taste, unless it is fully ripe. Medium size seed great and 30-50% of abortions. As for the appearance of the fruit it is very similar to the 'Bengal'; however, not presented in as compact clusters.
It comes from the Chinese province of Fujian, which was selected by the Rev. WM Brewster, who was named. However, it is the same as the Chinese variety Chen Zi. The lamina of the leaflets are large, dark green, wavy and slightly apex facing down. The plant is vigorous and has irregular fruiting.
Mauritius
Early maturing plant with high force, very open canopy and very sensitive to winds. The fruits are ovoid to heart-shaped, with an average weight of 24 g, red color, but a little dark when ripe, acceptable quality pulp and around 71%. Large seed with about 15 - 20% of abortions. Very productive, but the fruit is not good quality unless it is fully mature, but in this case the color is not good.
Corresponds to the Chinese variety Tai So. The seed is large. Sweet and sucosa pulp. The occurrence of aborted seeds is about 15%. The leaflets are large, broad and slightly wavy. The plant has great vigor and has irregular fruiting in Australia, but in China and South Africa, fruiting is regular.
Sweet Clift
In China it is known as 'Wai Chee'. Small fruit (17g.), Oval and red-intense. The seed is small. The pulp is 68% of the fruit is sucosa and sweet. The occurrence of aborted seeds is 35%. It is the variety of later maturity. The leaflets are small, oval and wavy. The plant has little force and present regular fruiting.
American
Brazilian variety, selected from the US brought seeds of the variety In May Tsze. Displays cordiform result, about 18 g and intense red staining. Occurrence of about 30 to 50% aborted seeds. Excellent quality. Production of regular and alternate, in moderate yield.
Groff
Corresponds to Chinese variety Souey Tung. Small fruit (14g), cordiforme and dark red. The seed is practically nonexistent because the percentage of aborted is 90-100%. The pulp is sweet and of excellent quality. The leaflets are short and wavy. The plant has little medium vigor and has irregular fruiting.
There are a lot of varieties of litchi that are defined by characteristics such as ripening period, plant vigor, shape, size and color of leaves, productivity, shape and fruit size, flesh texture, size of "language-de- chicken ".
How to Plant Lychee: Spread
The commercial propagation lychee is made by growing process, the most common being layering. However, they can be used other methods, such as by seed, grafting or cuttings.
Propagation by seeds
This process is generally not used since plants are genetically foot-FF disuniform, have a long juvenile (take 10 years or more. Start producing), as well as alternation of fruit production and of low quality. However, new cultivars can be obtained through selection of foot-francs that have interesting features.
The seeds may be stored for up to 4 weeks since maintained within the fruit. Once removed from the seeds begin to lose viability within 24 hours and, after 4 to 14 days, not germinate. Seeds stored in water for 24 hours, have a higher germination than those kept in vermiculite or ambient conditions. It is recommended to store in moist sphagnum moss, to 8 ° C for up to 8 weeks.
Seeding must be performed with good aeration in the substrate, partially shaded, horizontally and at a distance from each other, from 1 to 2.5 cm. Germination occurs in three days being preferred seeding in trays with plastic bags for later transplant when the seedlings are with 10-15cm. height.
This process is only used when it is aimed at improvement works or production of rootstocks.
Grafting
There is evidence that the Chinese have done grafting lychee for centuries, despite this, the method is not used by nurserymen to present low percentage of fixation.


Grafting
There are some processes to achieve a greater fixation of the graft, is one of them performing annealing branch 3 to 4 weeks before grafting, or use no branch forks portion of the terminal. However, the failure may be due to own plant characteristics, since the exchange is active in only one-third of its circumference at a given time, or even incompatibility between the parties.
The grafting can be performed by grafting cleft, English-simple or complicated, using forks 3 to 5 cm long and horses about 2 years of age. In favorable temperature conditions, egg yolks begin to develop in 3 to 4 weeks. When the changes are 50 to 100 cm tall, will be able to go to the field.
This process should be reconsidered, since we can take advantage of rootstock use, such as: Plant tilling control or growth habit, production, quality and fruit size, cold resistance, pests and diseases, and tolerance to different soil conditions.
Budding
The grafting may be done by budding inverted T or open window, the latter is used less and less fruit set is being used only when the shell does not loosen.
Selecting the bubble of the stadium is more critical than the process of budding or stadium rootstock. It is recommended the withdrawal of bubble vigorous branches, still green and exhibiting prominent axillary buds.
Cutting
Propagation by cuttings of lychee is not used by nursery owners by depend on many factors such as genotype, physiological condition of the plant, type of industry and environmental conditions, and complex infrastructure.
By using the correct techniques, one can get a high percentage of rooting, which is 2 to 4 months after the cutting. After this period, they must be kept in plastic bags, shady place for 15 to 20 months, when they reach 50-60 cm and will be able to be planted in the field.
In this process, we use herbaceous cuttings with about 15 cm long, a pair of sheets and maintained under intermittent mist. Application of auxins can improve the uniformity percentage and rooting, and to anticipate it and increasing the number and length of roots.
Although this process is not used, it is indicated to decrease the juvenile period, give uniform plants and allow to obtain a large number of seedlings from a single mother plant.
Layering
It is the method of choice. However, to obtain a large number of plants, it causes great damage to the mother plant.
We recommend using branches with 1.5 to 2.5 cm. in diameter and 45 to 60cm in length, obtaining a higher percentage of 90% rooting. It can be performed at any time of year, since it has sufficient moisture, but the best results are obtained in the spring.
The process starts with the annealing field, removing a ring from 1.5 to 2.5 cm wide. The injury should be covered with substrate that retains moisture (soil, sphagnum moss, etc.) and covered with plastic. The process may be enhanced by application of auxin in the annular region, which improves the rooting and reduces the period of obtaining the changes.
Once the rooted branch, it should be separated from the mother plant, a time to be extracted 50-70% of the leaves to reduce transpiration. The seedlings should then be kept in warm, shaded, with high humidity and protected from winds. The seedlings will be able to be planted in the field, after passing through two growing flows (about 12 months).
It is recommended to keep the plants obtained by layering under intermittent mist, improving the growth and survival, in addition to this practice allows the retention of leaves, accelerating the establishment of the changes.
How to Plant Lychee: Climate
The lychee is quite demanding regarding climate, develops well, but not satisfactorily produced in tropical regions, adapting best in regions where the climate is cold and dry before flowering and the rest of the hot and humid year. The plant resists the cold more than the hose and less than the orange tree. The optimal temperature range for this fruit tree, is between 20 to 35 ° C, and completely paralyze their activity, vegetative below 15 or 16 ° C.
New leaves are sensitive to winds, requiring therefore the windbreaks installation in areas where they occur.
Regarding precipitation, the ideal lying between 1250 and 1700 mm. The requirement in water is higher in new plants and in those production. However, the plant is under water stress when under conditions of warm weather, dry, low humidity and occurrence of winds, even under high soil moisture.
The climate is one of the most important factors affecting the floral initiation, favored by low temperatures and water stress; the bloom is greater in locations where there are temperatures below 13oC for 200 hours or more. However, these factors alone are not enough, because the flowering may occur without passing through these conditions, showing that nutritional and hormonal factors also are involved.
How to Plant Lychee: Solo
The lychee is not very demanding on the ground, although he prefers the light, deep and high in organic matter, which can be replaced by appropriate fertilization. The pH should be between 5.5 and 6.5, more acidic soils supporting the hose, and avocado; adapts the soil pH to 8.5, provided that there is provision of micronutrients. The biggest demand is in the early years of culture, when you need high content of organic matter for a good development.
Plantation
Planting spacing should be l0 x l0m, resulting in 100 plants per hectare. However, it would like a better use of the area, using the 6 x 6 m spacing, making it a thinning when the plants are about 15 years, leaving them spaced l2 x L2M. This method allows us to crop production 134 plants per hectare for a period of about 10 years.
Planting should be done preferably on cloudy days, and in pits previously fertilized with barnyard manure 5kg and 500g of superphosphate. After planting should be promoted irrigation when necessary and tutor the plant. at least the first year, in order to avoid damage to the root system.
How to Plant Lychee: Cultural Practices
Weed control
Culture must be maintained no.limpo due to have a shallow root system. Post-emergence herbicides can be used as paraquat or glyphosate, avoiding reaching the leaves, which would cause phytotoxicity problems. During the first years of cultivation of the crop, it is interesting to make mulch over the plants, which aids in weed control and to maintain moisture.
Pruning
The plant should be conducted in a single stem to a height of at least 50 cm when leaving 3-4 strong branches well distributed and that will give rise to the crown. At harvest time, must be removed together with the bunch, about 20 cm of the branches, this practice stimulates the production of a greater number of terminal branches. It is recommended also cleaning pruning and aeration for better penetration of sunlight.
In orchards with dense planting, they should be pruned branches overlap between neighboring plants.
Annealing
The practice of annealing aims to avoid alternate bearing. In the year following a good production before the winter (March-April), takes place the annealing branches with at least 1.5 cm in diameter in the region to be looped. The process consists in an incision 0.16 to 0.40 cm, for the entire circumference of the branch.
The annealing is not recommended as standard practice, since the results are variable and its use often results in decreased plant growth, small fruits and death of curly branches.
Use of Growth Regulators
Regulators can induce vegetative dormancy and stimulate flowering, when applied in winter; since, when used in the flowering, improves fruit set and reduces fruit drop. In both cases, the acid used is naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at doses of 100 and 10ppm, respectively. However, the results are quite inconsistent because there is the influence of the climate and nutritional status of the plant.
How to Plant Lychee: Fertilization
Fertilization should be made based on the stage and production plant. It is known that export at harvest every 100 kg of fruit, about 90-250g of nitrogen; Phosphorus 35-50g; 240-320g potassium; 20-60g of calcium; 2,0-2,5g chloro; 1,0- 1.4g sodium; 0,6-1,3g iron; 0,4-0,7g manganese; 0,7-1,0g zinc; 0,5-1,0g 0,3-0,7g copper and boron. However, commercial orchards are fertilized based on pre-established recommendations, such as following
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