- J H Oosthuizen
- lnstituut vir Tropiese en Subtropiese Gewasse, Privaatsak X11208, Nelspruit 1200
- 1994
Die Suid-Afrikaanse lietsjiebedryf is hoofsaaklik gebaseer op twee kultivars, naamlik HLH Mauritius en Red McLean (Madras). Hierdie is die enigste twee kultivars wat aangeplant is sedert die ontstaan van die bedryf ongeveer ‘n honderd jaar gelede. Weens die relatiewe kort oesseisoen van die twee kultivars, die ongewenste tyd van rypwording (gedurende Kersfees en Nuwejaar) en toenemende kompetisie vanaf veral Madagaskar, het ‘n groat vraag ontstaan na beter kultivars. ‘n Projek is begin waar alle belowende kultivars en seleksies, wat plaaslik beskikbaar was, in die belangrikste lietsjieproduserende gebiede geevalueer gaan word. Belowende kultivars vanaf ander lietsjieproduserende lande (hoofsaaklik Australie) sat ook ingesluit word vir evaluasie.
Die artikel behandel ‘n literatuurstudie oor die onderwerp, ‘n beskrywing van die navorsingsprojek en vestiging van die evaluasieblokke.
Summary:
- The South African litchi industry mainly relies on two cultivars: HLH Mauritius and Madras McLean’s Red, planted since the industry’s inception about 100 years ago. These two cultivars have a short harvest season, ripening around Christmas and New Year, leading to practical problems like labor shortages and increased competition from Madagascar.
- There is a pressing need for improved cultivars that extend the fresh fruit harvest season and have better quality traits.
- A project was initiated to evaluate all promising local and some imported cultivars (mainly from Australia) in major South African litchi production areas.
- The evaluation includes 13 cultivars and 10 selections planted in randomized block designs across diverse sites such as Nelspruit, Levubu, Burgershall, Malelane, Komatipoort, Duiwelskloof, and Howick.
- Standard control cultivars HLH Mauritius and Madras McLean’s Red are included in all trials for comparison.
- Environmental challenges like drought, elephant damage, and frost have impacted some trial sites but evaluations continue at others.
- Cultivars differ in traits such as fruit size, ripening date (ranging from earlier to later than standards), fruit quality, and adaptation to specific production areas.
- Cultivars suitable for tropical climates do not always perform well in subtropical climates; climate adaptability is key to cultivar success.
- Traits evaluated include tree vigor, growth form, flowering time, fruit quality (color, size, taste, texture), pest and disease resistance, and yield potential.
- Findings so far are preliminary, with fruit production expected to start around 1995, allowing identification of early fruiting and promising cultivars.
- The study underscores the importance of location-specific cultivar evaluation and breeding to meet industry needs.
- Propagation of imported and promising local cultivars remains a major challenge requiring alternative methods.
- The long-term goal is to provide South African producers with a range of high-quality, well-adapted cultivars to extend the harvest season and improve competitiveness.