Improvement of Fruit-Set in Secondary Panicles of Feizixiao Litchi by Removal of the Primary Panicles

Feizixiao Litchi, an early-mid-season variety, often forms large and long panicles Which greatly affects its productivity. The duration of the panicle development and the lengths of the main panicles axis were shortened by removing the primary panicles, thinning and short-pruning the secondary panicles, and thus the number of male flowers was reduced, while the female/male flower ratio was increased. As a result of that, the blooming duration of the female functional flowers was prolonged, and the proportion of the fruiting panicles was increased. In conclusion, it was observed that pruning panicles one and a half months prior to first flowering could improve the quality of panicles and their fruit-set in Feizixiao litchi.