Effects of Photoperiod and Night Temperature on the Flowering of Litchi chinensis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Mature plants of Litchi chinensis Sonn., commonly called lychee, flower irregularly under the conditions prevailing in the Hawaiian Islands. Hower, 4-yr.-old lychee, variety Kwai Mi, flowered profusely after 62-70 days of a mean low night temperature of 57 F under both 8- and 16-hr, photoperiods. Plants grown outside under ambient weather conditions or under a 16-hr, photoperiod in a greenhouse flowered subsequent to a 30-day period in which the minimum temperature was below 65 F. Floral initiation was directly associated with the starch content of leaves and stems.