- R B Cronje1 and P G Mostert2
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1Agricultural Research Council-Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag Xl 1208, Nelspruit 1200,
2Mostert Consulting Services, PO Box 3799, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa - 2009
Like in all woody plants, carbohydrates are also important in the growth of litchi trees. There are strong seasonal influences in carbohydrate reserves which reflect the growth stages of a tree, such as vegetative shooting, flowering and fruit growth. The starch reserves of HLH Mauritius litchi trees were determined as part of an orchard
management program. Wood samples from the main branches of trees of various treatments were taken up to ten times a year according to certain phenological stages of the trees. Starch content varied from year to year and within a year, reflecting alternate bearing and tree phenology. Vegetative growth, flower panicle development and rapid fruit growth resulted in reduced starch reserves, whereas rest phases, such as the period prior to flower panicle development and periods between vegetative flushing, caused starch reserves to increase again.