- D L Milne
- P O Box 466, Duiwelskloof 0835
- 2000
The main litchi production areas of Australia are along the east coast, extending from Cairns in the north, through Rockhampton and Nambour in Queensland into Lismore in New South Wales. This covers a wide range of latitudes, enabling Australia to extend their marketing season into March.
Summary:
- Main litchi production areas are along Australia’s east coast from Cairns to Lismore, covering various latitudes allowing market extension into March.
- About 450 growers manage a total of 76,000 litchi trees.
- Key cultivars and their distribution include Kwai May Pink (50%), Mauritius (17%), Tai So (12%), Wai Chee (7%), Salathiel (4%), Bengal, Madras type, and others making up the remainder.
- Most planted cultivars recently are Fay Zee Siu, Salathiel, and Kwai May Pink with 29% of trees under five years old, showing a fast industry growth.
- In 1996, 3,000 tonnes produced with 800 tonnes exported to Singapore, Polynesia, Hong Kong, UAE, and UK; some growers export up to 60% of their fruit.
- Fay Zee Siu, Salathiel, and Kwai May Pink receive the best prices, with Kwai May Pink yielding the most.
- Harvesting is done in two shifts, typically starting at midnight and ending by 11:00 am to avoid high fruit pulp temperatures that cause deterioration.
- Phenological research shows cold-induced flowering depends on bud size; pruning timing is crucial for flowering induction.
- Trials on chemical defoliants like ethylene are ongoing; leaf nitrogen improvements increase yield but take up to four years to show effects.
- Fertilizers are mainly applied via fertigation; tree densities vary from 140 to 280 trees per hectare depending on cultivar.
- Major pests and diseases include flying foxes (causing up to 90% crop loss), birds, erinose mite, fruit-piercing moths, pepper spot fungus on Kwai May Pink, slow decline disease, litchi fruit moth, macadamia nut borer, and scale insects.
- Control methods for flying foxes include directional sound/light deterrents or full orchard netting costing $10,000-$25,000 AUD per hectare.
- Postharvest research trials cover treatments like organic acids, hydrogen peroxide, biocontrol agents (Trichoderma, Lactobacillus), coatings, cooling techniques, and packaging.
- Potassium silicate dips show promise for fruit quality improvements.
- Grower-identified research priorities: bat and bird control, postharvest handling/HACCP, canopy management, pepper spot disease, marketing research, genetic improvement, and fruit drop.
- Research funded by Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Queensland Horticultural Institute, and grower levies.
- Plans to develop heat treatment followed by hydrocooling for market entry into Japan and US.
- The article acknowledges support from the Australian Lychee Growers Association and SALGA.