J. HAWAIIAN PACIFIC AGRIC. 11: 23-27 (2000) Stimulating Longan Flowering in Hawaii with Potassium Chlorate Mike A. Nagao and E. B. Ho-a, University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources, Beaumont Research Center, 461 W. Lanikaula St., Hilo, HT 96720 ABSTRACT Synchronous flowering and uniform fruit set of longan (Dimocarpus longan (Lour.) Steud.) cultivars were stimulated 2 months after soil applications of potassium chlorate (KCIOs). Trees were treated by broadcasting KCIO, at 250 or 500 g/tree onto the soil surface beneath the tree canopies and irrigating the material into the root zone. Foliar applications containing of 2.0 g/l KCIOs also stimulated flowering within 2 months after application, but flowering was limited to the treated branches. Since ‘flowering is more synchronous in treated trees, fruit maturation should be monitored closely so that fruits ‘are harvested when they attain optimum quality as over maturation may result in less than optimal quality. INTRODUCTION Longan (Dimocarpus longan (Lour.) Steud.) probably originated in north-eastern India, Burma or southern China and is generally cultivated in subtropical environments with cool dry winters and warm wet summers or at higher elevations in the tropics (Nakasone and Paull, 1998). Under these environmental conditions flowering is more regular. In Hawaii, flowering generally occurs from late February into late March (Ito et al., 2000). Tindall (1994) reported that winter temperatures ranging from 15-20° C are conducive for flowering, and once fruit set has occurred, night temperatures should not exceed 20-25°C. An annual rainfall of 150-200 cm is considered adequate for good fruit development. Flowers are borne on terminal inflorescences, which possess both functional male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers on the same panicle (Subhadrabandhu, 1990). Generally there is enough overlap of the flower types to insure pollination and fruit set. Fruit maturation can take between 4 to 7 months depending upon cultivar and climatic conditions (Nakasone and Paull, 1998; Subhadrabandhu, 1990). ‘Yen (2000) reported that potassium chlorate (KCIO3) drenches beneath longan trees could stimulate off-season flowering in Taiwan. A 10 to 20% solution applied as a drench or as a soil injection to depth of 50 cm effectively delivered the treatment to the roots. Yen (2000) reported that in addition to being independent of temperature, the effect of KCIO; on flowering was independent of developmental maturity of the shoots, as both newly emerged as well as mature terminals responded to the treatment. The objectives of this study were to determine if basal application and foliar sprays of KCIO; were effective for inducing flowering of longan in Hawaii MATERIALS AND METHODS, ‘The first study was conducted on 7 year-old air-layered longan trees growing in an Ola silty clay loam soil near Keaau, Hawaii. The soil treatments consisted of evenly broadcasting 0, 250 or 500 g KCIO; on November 19, 1999 under the canopy of each tree in an area extending to about 1.5 meters away from the trunk. All leaves and loose organic matter were removed from under the canopy prior to application, and trees were immediately irrigated to deliver the KCIO; to the root zone. Four longan varieties, ‘Kohala’, ‘Srichompoo’, ‘Biew Kiew’, and “E-Wai’, were used in the trial. The experimental units consisted of 9 single tree replicatevtreatment. Each treatment consisted of 1 ‘Kohala’, 2 ‘Sri Chompoo’ 4 ‘Biew Kiew’, and 2 ‘E-Wai’ trees. Following treatment, the overall flowering and fruit set J. HAWAIIAN PACIFIC AGRIC. (2000) Page 23of the tree canopies were assessed at monthly intervals by estimating the percentage of terminal shoots with flowering panicles or with fruit set. Ina second study 10 year-old air layered ‘Kohala’ trees growing under similar conditions were treated on December 20, 1999 with a foliar spray consisting of 0 or 2.0 g/l KCIO; applied to run-off. Experimental units consisted of 3 single tree replicates on which the KCIO; was applied to the lower branches on one side of each tree with the opposite side of the tree serving as the control. The number of panicles developing in the treated and the control sections of the trees were determined at 2 and 7 months after treatment. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In the first study panicles on control trees were found on less than 9% of the canopy in January, increased to 20% in mid-February, and increased to 61% by May (Fig. 1). Termination of the flowering season occurred by June 2 when flowering was evident on less than 1.0% of the canopy. Maximum anthesis for the control trees was observed in mid April. Synchronous panicle development was evident in trees treated with 250 and 500 g KCIOs (Fig. 1). For the 250 and 500 gil treated trees, panicles were evident on 74% and 86% of the canopy at 2 months (January 19) after treatment. By mid February, at 3 months after treatment, 91% and 97% of the terminals were flowering with the 250 and 500 g/ KCIO; treatments, respectively. Maximum anthesis occurred near the beginning of March for both KCIO; treatments, and flowering was completed by the beginning of May. All varieties responded similarly. For the control trees about 49% of the terminals within canopy had fruitlets by the beginning of June, whereas by the beginning of May, the 250 and 500 g treated trees had fruit set on about 82% of the canopy (Fig 2). For the duration of the fruit development period, fruit set was maintained on about 44% of the terminals in the untreated trees as compared to 84% and 86% of the terminals with the 250 and 500 g treatments. Foliar applications containing of 2.0 g/l KCIO, stimulated flowering within 2 months after application (Table 1). The flowering response was limited to the treated section of the trees as none of the control branches exhibited flowering during this period. At 7 months after treatment significantly greater numbers of panicles with fruit set were observed in the treated sections of the trees. No evidence of phytotoxicity was observed on any of the branches receiving the foliar treatments Basal applications of KCIOs effectively stimulated flowering of longan trees within 2 months after application and resulted in earlier, mote profuse and more synchronous flowering, and in a greater amount of fruit set within the tree canopies. As reported by Yen (2000), flowering was independent of developmental maturity of the shoots since both newly emerged as well as mature terminals were responsive to the treatment. In some instances flowering occurred from axillary buds situated below the cut surface of a recently pruned branch. The response to KCI; was not restricted to soil applications since foliar application with 2.0 g/l KCIOs also induced flowering at about 2 months after treatment. ‘The increased fruit set and crop load following treatment with KCIOs indicate that further studies are necessary to investigate effect of KCIO3 on fruit size and quality, return bloom and long term tree vigor. Since flowering was more synchronous with potassium chlorate than in untreated trees, fruit ‘maturation was also more uniform. Under these circumstances fruit maturation in treated trees should be monitored closely so that trees are harvested when fruits attain optimum quality as over maturation can result in less than optimal fruit quality (reduced soluble solids, off-flavor, frit cracking). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study was supported in part by a grant from the State of Hawaii, Department of Agriculture. Page 24 J. HAWAIIAN PACIFIC AGRIC. (2000)LITERATURE CITED Ito, PJ. , F. Zee and M.A. Nagao. 2000. ‘Egami’, a new longan cultivar from Hawaii. Univ. of HI Coop. Ext. Serv. New Plants for Hawaii, NPH-5. Nakasone, H.-Y. and RE. Paull. 1998. Tropical fruits. CAB International, New York, N.Y. Subhadrabandhu, S. 1990. Lychee and longan cultivation in Thailand. Rumthai Publication, Bangkok, ‘Thaitand. Tindall, H.D. 1994, Sapindaceous fruits: botany and horticulture. Hort. Rev. 16: 143-196. Yen, C.R. 2000. Firecracker ingredient found to produce flowering: From boom to bloom. Agriculture Hawaii I (3): 26-27. J. HAWAIIAN PACIFIC AGRIC, (2000) Page 25Table 1. Effect of 2.0 g/l KCIO; applied as a foliar spray on flowering of ‘Kohala’ longan trees. Treatments were made on December 20, 1999 and flowering and fruit set observed on February 23, and July 28, 2000, respectively. Treatment Flowering panicles + sd Panicles with fruit set sd Control oF 06+0.9 20 gi KCIO; 90422 14.3 £2.05 ™ Means per treatment section. : Hf eS. Loin All D> 100, = = 0 250 grams oO 60 Tt S t QD x w od > Qa O10 c 80 coe sin game oO % t : L ° rh Fig 1. Flowering pattern of longan trees after basal treatment with 0, 250, and 500 g potassium chlorate. Vertical bars represent standard error of the means (SE). Page 26 J, HAWAIIAN PACIFIC AGRIC. (2000)& = | cna ® « CoC 7 ss . ee Bw Oo] tom D> ® cs oe =e > Zz » Qo | stogans E & « O »« = ° ae a 2000 Fig 2. Fruit set pattern of longan trees after basal treatment with 0, 250, and 500g potassium chlorate. Vertical bars represent standard error of the means (SE). J. HAWAIIAN PACIFIC AGRIC. 2000) Page 27