Research advances in physiology and molecular biology of flower and fruit development in litchi

Litchi (Litchi chinensis) is native to South China and is the most distinctive fruit crop in China. Flower and fruit development, which play decisive roles in litchi yield and fruit quality formation, are the main contents of litchi biological research. In this paper, we make an overview on the progress in understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms of the flower bud differentiation, fruit abscission, fruit cracking and fruit quality (including fruit and seed size, pericarp color, sugar and acid metabolism) formation of litchi, and give the prospects of future research directions.