GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF LITCHI CHINENSIS AS AFFECTED BY SOIL-MOISTURE STRESS |
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Authors: | Shigeru Nakata Robert Suehisa |
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Institution: | Department of Plant Physiology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu |
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Abstract: | The effects of soil-moisture tension on growth and floral development of field-grown Litchi chinensis, a woody subtropical fruit tree, were investigated. Floral initiation and fruit set were promoted by a high soil-moisture tension for 6 months, beginning with June, 1967, or for 4 months, beginning with October, 1967. The normal floral-initiation period in Hawaii is during the period November to January. The apical meristematic tissue, judged from the number of branches flowering, was apparently not adversely affected by a soil-moisture stress, provided adequate water was available during the floral-bud development period. Low soil-moisture tension (0.3 bar) throughout the experimental period was inhibitory for floral bud initiation. High soil-moisture tension inhibited growth of the trunk and the emergence of flush-growths. Flowering was correlated significantly, and negatively, with growth. Leaf nitrogen and potassium levels were unaffected by water stress, but the phosphorus levels in leaf and stem were lowered by high-moisture tension. Hydrolysis of starch under moisture stress, reported for some species, was not evident in the Litchi. No correlation between trophic constituents and flowering was observed. |
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