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Morphological and anatomical development of the litchi fruit (Litchi chinensis Sonn. cv. Brewster)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2002

Stela Roberto Nacif ,
Adelita Aparecida Sartori Paoli  and
Luiz Carlos Chamhum Salomão
Stela Roberto Nacif
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36571-000 Brazil
Adelita Aparecida Sartori Paoli
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900 Brazil
Luiz Carlos Chamhum Salomão
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36571-000 Brazil
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Abstract

Introduction. The litchi tree produces fruit in terminal panicles in a development cycle of approximately 4 months. Data on its morphology and anatomy are scarce, although the fruit is of fundamental importance in the Sapindaceae systematic. This work was carried out to study fruit morphology and pericarp anatomy during the development of the cv. Brewster litchi. Materials and methods. Fruits were collected at different development phases on 12-year-old trees. The fruits were morphologically and anatomically studied. After fixation, the samples were sectioned in several anatomical planes, and mounted in temporary or permanent preparations. Results. The flowers were functionally male and female, with a superior bicarpelar ovary with two ovules, rarely three. Frequently, only a single fruit develops. The fruit is a heart-shaped drupe when ripe, fleshy and indehiscent. The pericarp is thin, leathery, rough, wrinkled and red colored, with aril covering all the seed. The fruit begins differentiation with the formation of the pericarp which consists of epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp. Discussion. The litchi fruit is elongated when young, becoming heart-shaped as it develops. It contains one or two seeds and each one is attached to the internal angle of the marginal sutures. When ripe, the litchi has a leathery and broken pericarp because of the presence of brachisclereides immediately below the epidermis, whose function may be protection against mechanical and physiological stresses and herbivorous action.

Keywords

BrazilLitchi chinensisplant reproductive organsfruitplant anatomypericarpBrésilLitchi chinensisorgane reproducteur végétalfruitanatomie végétalepéricarpe
Type
Research Article
Information
Fruits , Volume 56 , Issue 4 , July 2001 , pp. 225 - 233
Copyright
© CIRAD, EDP Sciences

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