Rules of Chlorophyll, Carotenoid, Anthocyanin Synthesis and Their Effects on Litchi (Litchi chinenesis Sonn.) Pericarp Coloration

The pericarp color in litchi was found to be a expression resulting from the effects of various kinds of pigments. The transformation pattern of pericarp pigments in ' Feizixiao' was different from that in' Nuomici'. During the maturation stage of litchi fruits, both the chlorophyll and anthocyanin contents of pericarp in' Feizixiao' were higher than those in 'Nuomici'. The excessively high chlorophyll content in' Feizixiao' pericarp interfered with the red color expression of anthocyanin. On the contrary, it was favorable for the red coloration of anthocyanin that the chlorophyll decomposed rapidly in' Nuomici' pericarp.