Litchi in Bangladesh

Litchi is a popular fruit in Bangladesh and a number of litchi cultivars are grown here. Low and irregular bearing of litchi is a normal phenomenon. The lack of profuse and regular flowering is attributed to several factors such as juvenility, environment, tree manipulations, photoperiod, germplasm and interaction of factors. After harvest, litchi deteriorates rapidly and causes pericarp browning which is one of the most important postharvest losses. In this book, the author has characterized the available litchi germplasm in Bangladesh and found out the earliest and latest litchi germplasm. He also has mentioned the yield and quality of litchi. Detailed study of floral biology of selected litchi germplasm is an important part of this book from where time of bud break, stages of panicle development, time and duration of flowering, different types of flower, fruit set, fruit drop and fruit development could be found. In this book, the author also has mentioned the technology of colour retention of fresh litchi up to about one month when it is stored at refrigerator (5±2oC) with un-perforated polyethylene bag.