Relation between flushing cycles and flowering in different litchi cultivars

Investigation was carried out to study the relationship between leaf flushing (viz. early, mid and late season) and yield for fifteen cultivars of litchi viz. Bedana, Bombai, China, Deshl, Early Large Red, Early Muzaffarpur, Elaichi, Kasba, McLean, Muzaffarpur, Nafarpal, Piazi, Purbi, Rose Scented and Seedless Late. Out of the three flushes, viz. early (after harvest), mid (August to October) and late (after November) season; the early and mid-season flushing influenced the yield, whereas the late season flushing did not have any contribution towards yield. In cultivars Bedana, Bombai and Deshi, the mid-season flushing produced an yield of 13.75, 25.91 and 14.97 kg per plant, respectively, whereas the early season flushing in the same cultivars produced only 6.76, 11.50 and 9.91 kg per plant, respectively. On the other hand, cultivars Early Large Red, McLean and Nafarpal showedgreater yield from early season flushing, producing 15.72,14.73 and 8.57 kg per plant, respectively compared with 5.32, 5.13 and 8.44 kg, respectively in the same cultivars from mid-season flushing. The yield from the early season flushes of the remaining cultivars varied between 15.84 kg in Elaichi and 30.7 kg in Rose Scented. Thus, the mid-season flush (appearing in August-October) is of more significance in cultivars Bedana, Bombai and Deshi, whereas the early seasonflush (appearing in July) is the desirable vegetative flush in the rest of the cultivars with respect to yield.