What causes litchi flower and fruit drop? The latest analysis is here

Many fruit trees experience flower and fruit drop, which seriously affects economic returns. Litchi is one of our favorite fruits, and it also experiences flower and fruit drop during cultivation. So what causes litchi flower and fruit drop? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction.

1. Physiological flower and fruit drop

There are many litchi varieties, but overall there are 3-4 physiological peak periods, and the mechanisms of each peak period are relatively consistent. The first peak period is mainly due to poor pollination or a large number of male flowers; the second mainly occurs at the young fruit stage, when poor fertilization affects endosperm development and the young fruit stops growing; the third generally occurs during the fruit expansion stage, when fruit growth requires large amounts of nutrients, causing insufficient tree nutrition and flower drop; the fourth generally occurs before harvest, when the fruit fully occupies the tree and the fruit stalk ages and loosens, causing fruit drop.

2. Climatic causes

During the litchi flowering and fruiting period, external climatic conditions such as light, temperature, humidity and rainfall all affect normal growth. For example, high or low temperatures, long periods of rainy weather and insufficient light all affect its yield and quality and increase the probability of flower and fruit drop. In addition, adverse climatic conditions also affect the quality of pollination during the flowering period, causing flower and fruit drop.

3. Insufficient nutrition

During the litchi flowering and fruiting period, the demand for nutrients is extremely high. If nutrients are lacking at this stage, it will cause a large amount of flower and fruit drop. Therefore, fertilizer and water management should be done well before flowering and fruit setting, and nutrients and water should be supplemented in time. If flower and fruit drop occurs due to insufficient nutrition, foliar fertilizer spraying can be used to supplement the plant's nutrients, with relatively good results.

4. Hormonal causes

During the litchi flowering and fruiting period, the plant body contains hormones that promote its growth and development, and an increase in these hormones inhibits plant growth and promotes the litchi fruit-setting rate. Conversely, a decrease in these hormones makes flower and fruit drop very likely to occur.

5. Pests and diseases

The litchi flowering and fruiting period is also a period of high incidence of pests and diseases. At this time, preventive measures must be taken. If pest and disease control is not timely, severe flower and fruit drop is very likely to occur, and in severe cases the yield can be reduced by more than 50%, causing great harm.

The above is an introduction to the causes of litchi flower and fruit drop. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.