{"id":2145,"date":"2024-01-01T17:51:41","date_gmt":"2024-01-01T09:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.org.au\/wp\/?page_id=2145"},"modified":"2024-03-03T15:43:51","modified_gmt":"2024-03-03T07:43:51","slug":"litchi-chinensis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/fruit-trees\/litchi-chinensis\/","title":{"rendered":"Litchi chinensis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Litchi chinensis<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Litchi, lychee<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-1954\" style=\"width: 100%;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-90-1 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-1954 ml-slider ms-theme-default nav-hidden\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"Slideshow\" aria-label=\"Litchi chinensis\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_1954\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_1954\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-1955 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"slide-1955\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/YensLitchiTree.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/YensLitchiTree-300x300.jpg\" height=\"300\" width=\"300\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-1954 slide-1955\" title=\"fruit panicles\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-3620 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"slide-3620\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/litchi-bengal-yen.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/litchi-bengal-yen-300x300.jpg\" height=\"300\" width=\"300\" alt=\"cv Bengal\" class=\"slider-1954 slide-3620\" title=\"cv Bengal\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Origin<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Native to southern China where it has been cultivated for millennia. It is now grown in numerous countries worldwide, including Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Climate<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>It is a sub-tropical plant, ideally having cool dry winters and warm and humid summers with annual precipitation of 1250-2000mm. Dry conditions during winter are very important to encourage flowering. Frosts may kill young trees and even when mature, tolerance is limited. The low temperatures associated with seasonal climates stimulate flowering as none occurs at 20-25\u00b0C. It can withstand brief flooding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plant Description<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Litchi is a long\u2013lived but slow-growing evergreen spreading tree with brittle branches, 8-11m tall. The deep green alternate leaves are compound <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3339 classtoolTips3339'>paripinnate<\/span> with 2-5 pairs of opposite elliptical leaflets, 7-15cm long and 2-5 cm wide. Growth occurs in several flushes each year, with young leaflets coloured bronze-pink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Relatives<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Sapindaceae Family, related to rambutan, longan, mamoncillo, pulasan, and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Soils<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>A wide variety of soils is acceptable if well-drained, even slightly alkaline <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3166 classtoolTips3166'>calcareous<\/span> soils. However, ideal pH is 5.5-7 as above this level micronutrient deficiencies may develop. Important <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3321 classtoolTips3321'>mycorrhizal<\/span> associations can form in acid soils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Propagation<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>The <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3381 classtoolTips3381'>recalcitrant<\/span> seeds should only be used to produce rootstocks for <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3774 classtoolTips3774'>grafting<\/span>. They are most commonly propagated by air-layering. <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3774 classtoolTips3774'>Grafting<\/span> is also possible, but some combinations have varying degrees of incompatibility. <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3780 classtoolTips3780'>Marcots<\/span> are very delicate for the first few months after separation from the parent and should be grown on for 6-12 months and then hardened before in-ground planting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultivars<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Names are confused but some are: Bengal (consistent bearer, large seed), Wai Chee (erratic in warm humid areas), Haak Yip (medium sized seed), Salathiel (No Mai Chee, consistent, small seed), Brewster (erratic), and Bosworth 3 (consistent). Characteristics of different cvs are not directly transferable to different climates and it is wise to select those which are known to produce well in your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flowering and Pollination<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p><span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3288 classtoolTips3288'>Inflorescences<\/span> occur as terminal <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3338 classtoolTips3338'>panicles<\/span>. The numerous yellow-green or brown yellow flowers are apetalous with a fleshy disc and up to 8 <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3417 classtoolTips3417'>stamens<\/span>. There are 3 sexual types of flowers. The first to develop is functionally male (type I), the next is <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3269 classtoolTips3269'>hermaphrodite<\/span> but functions as a female (II) and the third as male (III). Two thirds of the flowers on a <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3338 classtoolTips3338'>panicle<\/span> are type III and only 20% are type II, with the ratio varying for different varieties. Males shed <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3361 classtoolTips3361'>pollen<\/span> for several days and generally only one lobe of the <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3783 classtoolTips3783'>ovary<\/span> develops into a fruit. Bees are the dominant pollinators, giving up to 11% <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3250 classtoolTips3250'>fruit set<\/span>. There is some self sterility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultivation<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>They grow best in full sun. Young newly planted trees should be well-watered and protected with shade screens. They can be damaged by high N fertilizer so only use a slow release form. When mature, water is withheld during flower initiation in late summer-early autumn, but once fruit have set, high moisture levels must be maintained through to fruit maturity. Similarly, fertilization is withheld in this period to prevent <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3459 classtoolTips3459'>vegetative<\/span> growth. The main application of NPK is given after harvest, with amounts increasing with tree age. The number of leaves in a panicle determines the number of fruit so it is important to stimulate vegetative growth after harvest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Wind Tolerance<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>They should not be planted in exposed sites without some form of protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pruning<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>When young, all low branches should be removed and 4 well-spaced branches selected to form the main framework. Remove any branches that have a narrow <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3196 classtoolTips3196'>crotch angle<\/span>. When mature, branch terminals are headed back to control size, allow light penetration and encourage growth of bearing terminals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Fruit<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Round or oval, 2.5-4cm long, 2-30 per panicle with a thin yellowish to bright red leathery skin with pointed protuberances. The skin peels easily to reveal the edible <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3140 classtoolTips3140'>aril<\/span> which is white-translucent, very sweet and contains a single glossy dark brown seed that varies in size according to the variety. Some fruits have aborted seeds. They have reasonable levels of vitamin C and contain 20-25% carbohydrates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Fruit Production and Harvesting<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Seedling grown trees may bear after 6-10 years and vegetative plants in half this time. They can be notoriously irregular bearers plus there is usually major fruit drop. But with well-managed trees, yield can steadily increase with age so that a 7-8 year old could produce 45kg and very old trees several times this amount. Fruit are picked by cutting off the whole panicle when fully coloured as they don\u2019t ripen afterwards. Harvesting of individual trees extends over a few weeks but different cvs can extend the range of harvest times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Fruit Uses<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Usually eaten fresh but can be dried, frozen, pulped or processed. Freshly picked litchis can be stored for about 2 weeks in a fridge but only 2-3 days at room temperature. Removal of the large seed allows the fruits to be stuffed with various fillings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pests and Diseases<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally minimal, but some possible problems include scales, mites, aphids, anthracnose, leaf-curl and birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Comments<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>Fresh litchi fruit appeals to almost everyone. The biggest challenge in WA with our Mediterranean climate of wet autumn and winter conditions is to attain sufficient flower <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3159 classtoolTips3159'>bud<\/span> initiation for consistent flowering and fruit set, and then to keep up the moisture levels through our dry summers till harvesting to avoid major fruit drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background-secondary-background-color has-background is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More Information<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Litchis &#8211; other than simply delicious?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>You may be aware of a recent media story describing childhood deaths in India following litchi <em>(Litchi chinensis)<\/em> consumption. It arises from a study entitled Association of acute toxic encephalopathy with litchi consumption in an outbreak in Muzaffarpur, India, 2014: a case-control study by a large authoritative team of Indian and US researchers that was published in one of The Lancet specialty journals (Lancet Global Health, January 30, 2017). Here is a summary of their work covering the essence of the problem, how they tackled it and what they found:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\"><em>Outbreaks of unexplained illness frequently remain under-investigated. In India, outbreaks of an acute neurological illness with high mortality among children occur annually in Muzaffarpur, the country\u2019s largest litchi cultivation region. In 2014, we aimed to investigate the cause and risk factors for this illness. In this hospital-based surveillance and age-matched case-control study, we did laboratory investigations to assess potential infectious and non-infectious causes of this acute neurological illness. Cases were children aged 15 years or younger who were admitted to two hospitals in Muzaffarpur with new-onset seizures or altered sensorium. Age-matched controls were residents of Muzaffarpur who were admitted to the same two hospitals for a non-neurologic illness within seven days of the date of admission of each case. Clinical specimens (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine) and environmental specimens (litchis) were tested for evidence of infectious pathogens, pesticides, toxic metals, and other non-infectious causes, including presence of hypoglycin A (HPGA)<\/em> or methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG), naturally-occurring fruit-based toxins that cause hypoglycaemia and metabolic derangement. Matched and unmatched (controlling for age) bivariate analyses were done and risk factors for illness were expressed as odds ratios. <br><br>Between May 26, and July 17, 2014, 390 patients meeting the case definition were admitted to the two referral hospitals in Muzaffarpur, of whom 122 (31%) died. On admission, 204 (62%) of 327 had blood glucose concentrations of 3.9mmol\/L or less. 104 cases were compared with 104 age-matched hospital controls. The matched odds ratio for illness with litchi consumption was 9.6, visiting a fruit orchard it was 6.0 and for the absence of an evening meal in the 24hr preceding illness onset 2.2. Among those who consumed litchis, cases were more likely to have eaten unripe or rotten litchis (7.9 and 7.4 respectively). The absence of an evening meal significantly modified the effect of eating litchis \u2013 with and without the evening meal odds ratios were 3.6 and 7.8 respectively. Tests for infectious agents and pesticides were negative. Metabolites of HPGA , MCPG, or both were detected in 48 [66%] of 73 urine specimens from case-patients and none from 15 controls; 72 (90%) of 80 case-patient specimens had abnormal plasma acylcarnitine profiles consistent with severe disruption of fatty acid metabolism. In 36 litchi <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3140 classtoolTips3140'>arils<\/span> tested from Muzaffarpur, HPGA concentrations ranged from 12.4 \u00b5g\/g to 152.0 \u00b5g\/g and MCPG ranged from 44.9 \u00b5g\/g to 220.0 \u00b5g\/g. <br><br>Our investigation suggests an outbreak of acute encephalopathy in Muzaffarpur associated with both HPGA and MCPG toxicity. To prevent illness and reduce mortality in the region, we recommended minimising litchi consumption, ensuring receipt of an evening meal and implementing rapid glucose correction for suspected illness. A comprehensive investigative approach in Muzaffarpur led to timely public health recommendations, underscoring the importance of using systematic methods in other unexplained illness outbreaks.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>Does this mean litchis could be a health risk for we who live in the West, even if you haven\u2019t had an acute problem serious enough to require hospitalisation? The reassuring answer is most likely no, given (i) we have more than an ample supply of a wide range of alternative and affordable foods, leading to better overall nutrition in the population and (ii) litchis are mainly grown in tropical developing countries and their price and availability elsewhere can substantially limit possible over-consumption. Relevant features of this question follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HPGA and MCPG are two non-standard homolog amino acids produced as secondary phytochemicals, not only by litchi plants but also by many others in the Sapindaceae family, such as rambutan, longan and ackee. All species in the plant kingdom have evolved over eons to synthesise many thousands of these non-nutrient chemicals for all sorts of reasons, including as protective agents from pests, diseases and fauna (herbivory), and even for competing with other plants (<span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3124 classtoolTips3124'>allelopathy<\/span>). When consumed, compounds like antioxidants have very beneficial spin-off effects for our health and well-being and others are downright poisonous that we never knowingly eat, eg strychnine produced by <em>Strychnos nux-vomica.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many plants have anti-nutrient factors (eg pulses) or bitter agents like oleuropein in table olives that lie somewhere in the middle ground between the all good\/all bad extremes that we can learn to manipulate within certain acceptable levels without total rejection. The all-or-none acceptance approach would leave us very short in the food security and nutrition stakes. Reduction or alteration of key harmful or unpleasant substances can happen in a number of ways including learning when the plant itself solves the problem for us (eg astringent <span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3437 classtoolTips3437'>tannins<\/span> with persimmon ripening), or breeding better varieties (eg lowering erucic acid in canola oil), or processing the food in some way such as soaking, drying or cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the ackee the pharmacological effects of HPGA and MCPG were documented way back in the 1930s and later it was suggested they may have some connection with Jamaican vomiting sickness that was sometimes fatal. This was particularly important in that country because it\u2019s their national dish and is heavily consumed. Since that time deaths from ackee have been reported in many other countries (the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo, Haiti and the US) and as a consequence the US government banned all fruit importation in the 1970s. Later however a more flexible approach was instituted where similarly to contaminant and pesticide residues, importation was then allowed provided acceptable levels were not exceeded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the 1990s, toxicity reports associated with litchi and other Sapindaceous fruits containing HPGA and MCPG appeared, but as the present study indicates it had not been possible to definitively establish they were the reason for hospital admissions and fatalities. All sorts of nebulous causes had subsequently been suggested (it was called the \u2018mystery disease\u2019 for years), although in India the association with the litchi season each year had been noted. Nevertheless, association does not represent proof of cause and effect and the evidence for this had to wait till the cited study finally brought together the epidemiology, the known pharmacology and toxicology of HPGA and MCGP, detection of the known metabolites in the urine of affected children, and exclusion of other suggested causes including drinking water, heat stroke, unusual medications, viral infections and exposure to pesticides, herbicides or heavy metals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How is it that litchis are so much enjoyed round the world and this possible negative effect is not more widely recognised? In litchi-growing areas of Bangladesh and Vietnam there had been similar reports to those in India, but again without any clear identification of the cause\/s. Most Indian cases have been recorded with fatalities early in the morning, and in young children from poor socio-economic backgrounds rather than the adults. Many of these children suffer from various degrees of on-going malnutrition and have limited body stores of glycogen that can be metabolised in times of need to maintain blood glucose levels, the essential energy source for the brain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the main litchi growing areas of India, the harvest is undertaken mainly by itinerant worker families who camp on site during the harvest season. Litchis are sold commercially by the bunch and free fruit is basically un-marketable. So given food is in short supply for these people, the children may feast on the readily-available fallen fruit throughout much of the day while their parents work in the orchards. As a consequence they can consume large quantities and then be un-interested in having a properly cooked evening meal. Plus as children they likely pay less attention to only eat ripe fruit as it\u2019s now known that HPGA and MCPG levels in unripe fruit are much higher. HPGA and MCGP block the breakdown of glycogen to glucose, so these children rapidly become severely hypoglycemic (31% of cases in the above study had blood glucose levels of 1.7mmol\/L or less) to the extent of life-threatening delirium, coma, acute febrile seizures etc without aggressive intervention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Compounding the problem, these two substances interfere with fatty acid metabolism (found in 89% of cases in the study) that could otherwise supply an alternative source of energy. With these pharmacological effects they recommended that the first corrective treatment step for admitted patients is to immediately supply glucose. As quoted above, for children who had gorged on litchi all day the illness odds ratio for those who didn\u2019t eat an evening meal compared to those who did and therefore had the chance to replenish glucose and glycogen levels overnight was more than halved (7.8 vs 3.6). The possibility that the hypoglycemic activity of HPGA and MCPG could be therapeutically useful in the management of diabetes is currently being studied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The take home message is to only ever eat the flesh (aril) of fully ripe fruit; some HPGA and MCPG is still there but 3-5 fold less than that in unripe fruit. For comparison in ackee, the HPGA concentration ratio of unripe to ripe fruit is 10-100 fold, and consequently there are very strong recommendations that it should only ever be eaten when fully ripe (<span class='tooltipsall tooltip_post_id_3172 classtoolTips3172'>capsule<\/span> open). Litchi seeds should not be eaten at all as they have approximately 20 times the level of HPGA as ripe fruit, plus they also have an additional hypoglycin (hypoglycin B) which can increase as the fruit ripens. As concluded in the Lancet Editorial commenting on the above study, we in the West can be reasonably confident of enjoying litchis without great concern provided a properly balanced diet is maintained where litchi or other Sapindaceous fruit like rambutan and longan are only eaten as a snack and don\u2019t become the main course. With this attitude, you can go ahead and relish the exquisite flavour and aroma of these beauties the next time you think you deserve that special treat!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:120px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Litchi chinensis Litchi, lychee Origin Native to southern China where it has been cultivated for millennia. It is now grown in numerous countries worldwide, including Australia. Climate It is a sub-tropical plant, ideally having cool dry winters and warm and humid summers with annual precipitation of 1250-2000mm. Dry conditions during winter are very important to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":15,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"iawp_total_views":255,"footnotes":""},"folder":[94],"class_list":["post-2145","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2145"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3864,"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2145\/revisions\/3864"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rarefruitclub.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/folder?post=2145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}