Characteristics of Fruit Growth and Development in Litchi Cultivars

Summary Growth pattern in fruits of thrae early cultivars viz., ‘Purbi’, ‘Deshi’, ‘Grean’ and in two late cultivars viz., ‘Ajhauli’ and “Kasba’ has been studied on fresh and dry weight bases. Tha growth pattern followed a sigmoid curve which was somewhat erratic in Ajhauli. Maximum moisture content was attainable in ‘Kasba’ and minimum in ‘Ajhauli’ with the advent of aril development. Significant quantitative differences were obtained throughout maturation and ripening of fruits in all the cultivars. The rind and seed exhibited somewhat identical trends.

Although fruits of ‘Kasba’ undergo maximum development, it is commercially most inferior in having lesser aril with a relatively thicker rind. The variety ‘Ajhauli'had greater rind as compared to var. Kasba and was inferior in quality with minimum moisture content.