It was studied the fruit development in 'Bengal' litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). The samples were taken weekly 35 days after anthesis until the beginning of fruit senescence. From the 77th day after anthesis, fruits were decomposed in pericarp, aril and seed. Anthesis occurred in the first week of September. The fruit dry matter, length and diameter followed a single-sigmoid pattern. For dry matter accumulation, an initial phase, of slow growth, ended the 63rd day after anthesis and was coincident with a period of intense fruit drop. The next phase occurred from the 63rd to the 98th day and showed a rapid dry matter accumulation. Until the 77th day, the main increment in fruit dry matter was due to pericarp and seed growth. Eighty eight percent of the maximum length and 65% of the maximum diameter were reached at the end of this phase. From the 84th until the 98th day after anthesis, fruit growth was determined, basically, by aril. Fruit dimensions and dry matter were stabilized after the 98th day. The commercial harvest of the fruits, characterized by the reddish color of the pericarp, occurred at the 112th day after anthesis. Fruits at the 119th day after anthesis were senescent.
Litchi chinensis; inflorescence; phenology; fruit set; ripening; harvest
