- A Mmboyi and AD Sippel
- 2021
- Volume: 24
- Pg 4-9
- Download
All trees in the ARC’s litchi breeding and selection blocks are evaluated annually for fruiting and yield status to determine early and late yield potential. In-field description and laboratory analyses are key to determining selection performance and fruit characteristics such as mass, length, width, and TSS. Selection F4-E5 was found to be an all-round good early season performer for two consecutive seasons, while selection F4-G8 was the earliest selection in the 2019/2020 season. For the mid-season, selection F4-J1 was the best performer. A Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) registration was recommended for selection F4-H9 and TS-LIT-049 was awarded PBR registration.
Summary:
The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) initiated a litchi breeding and evaluation program nearly 30 years ago focusing on developing cultivars adapted to South African conditions, aiming to improve yield and extend the short harvesting season with early and late cultivars.
The program evaluates trees annually for fruiting, yield, and fruit characteristics including mass, size, peelability, and total soluble solids (TSS).
Promising early season selections include F4-E5 (a consistent top performer, maturing 2 weeks earlier than ‘Mauritius’) and F4-G8 (earliest harvested, with large fruit size).
Mid-season selection F4-J1 showed the best overall performance similar to or better than industry standards like ‘Mauritius’.
Late-season selection F4-H9 was recommended for Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) registration, offering larger fruit than ‘Mauritius’ with desirable traits like heart shape and small seed size.
A recently registered cultivar, TS-LIT-049, produces larger fruit (30 g) than ‘Mauritius’ (23 g) with bright red, heart-shaped fruit, offering potential for better market returns.
The breeding program uses randomized trials with multiple replicates over consecutive years to rigorously compare selections and cultivars.
The selections show promising potential to extend South Africa’s litchi market season and contribute to industry diversity and productivity.