EFFECT OF FRUIT THINNING INTENSITY ON FIVE VARIETIES OF LYCHEE

ABSTRACT Fruit thinning is the removal of fruitlets in heavy fruit set situations and aims to increase salable fruit sizes, avoid branch breakdown, reduce harvesting costs, and promote a balance between the vegetative and reproductive growth of plants. Furthermore, this procedure may improve coloring, increase soluble solids, and maintain plant vigor. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of fruit thinning in five varieties of lychee (Bengal, American, Mauritius, Sweet Cliff, and WB4), in the conditions of Jaboticabal - São Paulo state (Brazil). The experimental design was a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments and seven replications of three plants each. Treatments consisted of fruit thinning intensities characterized by the number of fruit left on terminal branch panicles, being T1: 3 fruits/branch; T2: 6 fruits /branch; T3: 9 fruit/ branch; T4: 12 fruits/branch; T5: no thinning (control plot). Evaluations were made through a colorimetric assay on ripe fruits, besides a physical and chemical analysis for each variety. The treatments affected the response of varieties on each studied variable. The variety “Mauritius” showed interesting physical and chemical characteristics for the consumer market.摘要：疏果指在坐果过量的情况下摘除幼果，其目的在于提升商品果的单果规格、避免枝条折断、降低采收成本，并促进植株营养生长与生殖生长的平衡。此外，该操作还可改善果实着色、提升可溶性固形物含量，并维持植株长势。本研究旨在巴西圣保罗州雅布蒂卡瓦尔（Jaboticabal）的种植环境下，评估疏果处理对5个荔枝品种（孟加拉（Bengal）、美国（American）、毛里求斯（Mauritius）、甜崖（Sweet Cliff）以及WB4）的影响。试验采用完全随机设计（completely randomized design, CRD），设置5个处理组，每组设置7次重复，每次重复包含3株植株。各处理组按照顶生枝花序留果数量设置不同疏果强度，具体为：T1：每枝条留果3个；T2：每枝条留果6个；T3：每枝条留果9个；T4：每枝条留果12个；T5：不进行疏果（对照组）。本研究通过比色测定（colorimetric assay）对成熟果实进行品质分析，并对各品种开展理化指标检测。结果显示，各处理组对各品种的所有研究性状均存在显著影响。其中，‘毛里求斯’品种展现出适配消费市场的优良理化特性。