Effect of cincturing on growth and flowering of lychee: preliminary observations in subtropical Queensland.

Abstract

The effect of cincturing on growth and flowering of three lychee (Litchi chinensis) cultivars (Bengal, Brewster and Tai So) was investigated at four sites in subtropical southern Queensland. Cultivars at these sites displayed a range in the level of natural vegetative dormancy in winter (38-95% of terminal branches) and flowering in spring (25-100% of terminal branches). There was an inverse relation (r= 0.093; P< 0.005) between the flowering response to cincturing and potential flowering as indicated by the flowering of the control trees; cincturing reduced flowering in those trees that would otherwise have flowered profusely in spring (70-100%). This occurred when the cincture healed prematurely to allow vegetative flushing in winter. Since these preliminary results suggest that some loss of yield may occur in years and cultivars with good flowering, further work is required before cincturing can be recommended as a standard horticultural practice in lychee cultivation.