Strategic selection of polliniser trees can improve fruit quality of lychee, a crop that exhibits mixed-mating

• Published in: Basic and applied ecology Vol. 83; pp. 80 - 87
• Main Authors: Trueman, Stephen J., Nichols, Joel, Burwell, Christopher J., Kämper, Wiebke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier GmbH 01.03.2025; Elsevier
• Subjects: acidity; applied ecology; brix; color; cross pollination; cultivars; flowers; Fruit colour; fruit quality; fruit size; fruit weight; fruits; genotype; honey bees; Litchi chinensis; litchis; Minerals; Nutrients; Orchard design; orchards; outcrossing; parentage; Paternity; pollen; seed size; Self-compatibility; Self-fertility; self-pollination; selfing; Taste; Xenia; Litchi chinensis; Fruit colour; Self-fertility; Nutrients; Orchard design; Taste; Minerals; Paternity; Self-compatibility; Xenia

Fruit trees are often planted in single-cultivar blocks that allow convenient orchard management. This planting design can reduce the opportunities for cross-pollination, decreasing fruit quality if many harvested fruit result from selfing rather than outcrossing. We aimed to: (1) identify flower vi...