- D Sivakumar1 , L Korsten1 , RB Cronje2 and P G Mostert3
-
1Post harvest Science, Department of Microbiology and Plant pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, SA
2Agricultural Research Council-Institute of Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag Xl 1208, Nelspruit 1200, SA
3Mostert Consulting Services, PO Box 3799, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa - 2007
Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) cv. Mauritius is a popular cultivar exported to the European market due to its attractive red colour and excellent fruit quality. Five different crop management treatments regimes (T1 to T5) were tested according to Cronje et al., 2006 in comparison with the currently adopted regime in a commercial orchard to improve the fruit quality attributes. T5 regime with Ca(N03)2 foliar spray application increased the fruit Ca and firmness. Leaf Ca content was higher than the fruit Ca. T3 and T5 increased the fruit K content. A moderate correlation between leaf K and fruit K and a positive correlation between fruit K and SSC were evident.