- B Snijder and P J C Stassen
- Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag X11208, Nelspruit 1200
- 1998
Research into pruning and manipulation of litchi trees has only started recently. The results obtained with pruning of four-year-old litchi trees during the 1996 season showed that pruning is advantageous for the producer as it develops a stronger and better framework for the tree. This reduces branch breakage during strong winds. The trial trees are, however, still too young for yield results to be available.
Pruning of older trees at Levubu showed that tree shape and size can be maintained with pruning. A problem discovered when mature trees are pruned was the tendency for the trees to go into a juvenile growth phase. Research is currently concentrating on the control of regrowth and shortening of this Juvenile phase.