Flowering and fruit set in lychee {Litchi chinensis (Gaertn.) Sonn.} – A review

Low productivity is the main hindrance of acceptance of lychee {Litchi chinensis (Gaertn.) Sonn.} as a major fruit crop. The various causes can be attributed to two phenological stages of the reproductive cycle viz., floral initiation and flowering and fruit set. Floral initiation is a problem in warm tropics whereas poor fruit set is a problem of the subtropics. A proper understanding of various factors influencing each of the stages of the reproductive cycle would help in developing mainpulating strategies to increase lychee productivity.