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Research Paper | Botany | India | Volume 12 Issue 3, March 2023
Effects of Temperature and Water Stress on Leaf Growth and Flowering of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)
Abstract: The litchi is one of the most environmentally sensitive fruit tree restricted to few a countries in the world and in few states in India. Recently, it has been reported that litchi is performing well in Southern parts of India. Lychee or litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is most popular fruit of South-East Asia, produces leaf flushes, flowers and fruits on terminals of new growth. The stress factors like water stress, cold winter are the triggering factors to induce dormancy which promotes flowering. Soil moisture, permanent wilting point (PWP) and soil temperature at the depth of 5 and 15 cm revealed extreme soil dryness and high temperature, relatively less under orchards receiving FYM or, pond sediment. Soil moisture in the orchards was near the PWP where as soil temperature (5 cm) in open was 40 to 41?C. Very poor rainfall (5.8 mm) between Oct 2021 to April 2022, shallow soil, extreme dryness led break in capillarity between upper soil and lower sand layer, elevated soil temperature coupled with moisture stress were established as reasons for drying of Litchi trees. Under similar soil depth, no drying of trees was observed from the orchards in which either FYM was applied on annual basis or incorporation of pond soil in root zone was routine practice which was corroborated in terms of better moisture and temperature conditions during April, 2022. Climate change projections under representation concentration pathways (RCPs) 8.5 indicate rainfall reduction of about 76% in November to April, though annual rainfall is Zero likely to increase by 36%.
Keywords: Litchi, Temperature Water stress, Flowering, Leaf & Shoot maturity
Edition: Volume 12 Issue 3, March 2023,
Pages: 1489 - 1492