Studies of vegetative propagation of the lychee (Litchi chinensis ...

204 W. s. Abutiate & N. Y. Nakasone (1972) Ghana Jnl agric. Sci. 5,201-211
Results for total carbohydrates were analysed Rooting percentages obtained with the Poamoho
statistically following the methods outlined by cuttings under mist with any of the hormonal
Snedecor (1962). treatments were very low. Rooting was better with
no mist in the polyethylene enclosure. The highest
Rooting studies
Four weeks after the Kona cuttings were set,
callusing was clearly visible on a few girdled
branch cuttings of Kwai Mi in the mist box.
Callusing in Brewster under mist and in the polyethylene
enclosure was apparent at 5 and 6 weeks,
respectively. Leaves were retained in the majority
of the Brewster and Kwai Mi cuttings up to 10
weeks but were shed thereafter.
Results showed very low percentage rooting in
both Kwai Mi and Brewster cultivars with and
without mist, irrespective of hormonal treatment.
The highest percentage rooting obtained under
mist and the corresponding total carbohydrate
analyses for girdled and non-girdled scionwood
are shown in Table 1. Cuttings taken from nongirdled
branches of both Kwai Mi and Brewster
rooted respectively better than those taken from
girdled branches and rooted in the polyethylene
enclosure.
Even though percentage total carbohydrates was
higher in Hak Ip than in Brewster, the former did
not root. On the whole, Kwai Mi rooted slightly
better than Brewster. Percentage rooting did not
tally well with levels of carbohydrates in the
cuttings. Results, however, showed that carbohydrate
accumulation was fastest in Kwai Mi and
slowest in Brewster.
Kona
TABLE 1
percentage rooting obtained with no mist in the
polyethylene enclosure and the corresponding
per cent total carbohydrate analyses of girdled and
non-girdled scions are shown in Table 1. There
was better correlation between total carbohydrate
content and corresponding percentage rooting
obtained in the Brewster cultivar. In the case of
Kwai Mi, better rooting was obtained with
material from non-girdled branches.
Grafting studies
Very few graft takes were obtained under any of
the photoperiod regimes. In almost all cases, only
previously prepared scions showed any success.
Results of graft takes under normal day are presented
in Table 2. Non-girdled Kwai Mi scion
gave 10% successful unions on Brewster stock.
All grafts under the 16-hour photoperiod failed
while under the 8-hour regime, only 20 % of
girdled Brewster scion and 10% Kwai Mi each on
Hak Ip stock were successful. Graphs showing the
results of the chemical analyses for total sugar in
girdled and non-girlded stems of the three lychee
cultivars used as sources for scionwood for the
grafting studies are shown in Fig. 1.
Total percentage sugar was less than 1% dry
weight in all cases. The total sugar accumulation
curves for Kwai Mi and Hak Ip for girdled and
non-girdled stems were similar.
Total Percentage Carbohydrate Analyses and Percentage Rooting for Girdled and Non-Girdled Stems of
Three Cultivars of Lychee Grown at Kona (Hawaii Islanli) and at Poamoho (Oahu, Hawaii)
Rooting % % Total carbohydrates1 Station Nature of
stem KwaiMi Hak Ip Brewster KwaiMi Hak Ip Brewster
Poamoho
··1
··1
Girdled' 21·7 0 1·7
Non-girdled 5·0 0 3·3
Girdled' 33·3 0 55·0
Non-girdled 60·0 0 5·0
1 Percentages based on dry weight.
, Branches girdled for 11 weeks before cutting.
** Means for determinations significant at P = 0·01.
11·00
9·14
8·88
2·46
10·82
8·73
9·08
1·97
10·05**
4·77**
10·41**
2·34**