Variation pattern in litchi under Indian conditions

The experiment was conducted on 13 commonly grown varieties of litchi (Litchi chinensis L.) under plateau condition of Jharkhand. The results revealed significant differences among the varieties for fruit yield, tree height, tree spread, tree volume, fruit weight, fruit circumference, fruit volume, seed weight, pulp weight and per cent of edible portion. Yield supremacy was observed in Purbi, Shahi, Trikolia and China. However, per cent of edible pulp was maximum in Bedana, Green, Rose Scented, Shahi and Trikolia. Heritability estimates ranged from 34.48 to 93.68 in tree girth and fruit yield respectively. The association analysis revealed that plant yield had significant positive association with fruit length, fruit circumference, fruit weight and pulp weight. Tree height had positive association with tree volume and fruit weight had positive association with fruit length, fruit circumference, fruit volume, skin weight and pulp weight. Partitioning of plant yield into direct and indirect effects revealed that positive direct effect was for tree volume, fruit length, fruit circumference, fruit volume, seed weight and pulp weight. Further, improvement in litchi can be achieved by selecting vigorous trees in terms of tree volume, girth and possessing quality fruits in terms of higher fruit weight, more fruit length, more pulp weight and more fruit circumference.