Delaying the harvesting period of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) cv. Rose Scented

An experiment was conducted to stagger the harvesting period of litchi in cultivar Rose Scented. In this regard, various kinds of treatments were imposed on 25 years old full bearing litchi tress either at flower initiation or few days before harvest of fruits. KNO₃ (4%) was sprayed at 1 cm size of panicle in the first week of February. However, other treatments viz. GA-(20, 40 ppm) was applied two weeks before expected date of harvest, while shading treatments were given by covering the tree with nylon nets producing 30% and 50% shades respectively, 30 days after fruit set. Shade nets 30% and 50% were most effective in delaying ripening of litchi fruits and delayed the harvest date by 5 and 8–10 days, respectively without deteriorating the fruit quality. GA₃ 20 and 40 ppm delayed the harvest date for 6–7 and 4 days, respectively while KNO₃ (4%) could not play significant role in advancing/delaying the harvest date of litchi. Higher fruit yield and reduced fruit cracking were obtained with shade net (50%) which was remained at par with shade net (30%). Higher fruit chemical quality attributes were recorded in GA₃ sprays over other treatments.