- A Mmboyi and AD Sippel
- 2021
- Volume: 24
- Pg 10-14
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In previous years, several litchi cultivars from Israel and Australia were imported with the aim of extending the short harvesting period in South Africa. These cultivars have been evaluated for the past number of seasons and the focus has been on their performance and adaptability. The trees are still young, but the data collected indicate stability and promise in their performance. There is potential in most of the cultivars but ‘Goose Egg’ stood out with its large size and ‘San Sue Lin’ with its seedlessness.
Summary:
The study evaluates several imported litchi cultivars in Mbombela to identify promising varieties for local cultivation and industry enhancement.
Early-ripening cultivar Israeli A matures about one week earlier than the standard ‘Mauritius’, with medium fruit size, and offers stable yields.
Israeli cultivar D is an early to mid-season ripening cultivar with large, lopsided fruits, thick dark red skin, small aborted seeds, and a sweet juicy pulp, ripening the same week as ‘Mauritius.’
Late-ripening cultivars include ‘Chakrapat’, which has medium to large purplish-red fruits, high yield, and ripens four weeks after ‘Mauritius.’
‘Goose Egg’ produces very large heart-shaped fruits with thick dark red skin and juicy flesh but has relatively low yield; it ripens four weeks after ‘Mauritius’ and may suit niche markets.
‘San Sue Lin’ is a mid-late season cultivar with variable fruit sizes, mostly seedless, and juicy clear pulp; yields were moderate.
‘Tibby Selection’ ripens eight weeks after ‘Mauritius’, with small to medium-sized fruits, bright red skin, and aromatic sweet taste; yields were good.
Additional cultivars like ‘Chompogo’, ‘Large Fruit Baila’, and ‘Maguli’ also show potential but need further evaluation for yield and adaptation.
Propagation efforts include distributing 690 cuttings for multiplication, with field trials underway in other production areas to test adaptability.
The imported cultivars add diversity to the current litchi offerings, providing options for early, mid, and late-season harvests to extend market availability.