Effects of branch girdling on shoot growth and mineral nutrients in Litchi
WANG Li-min
WANG Hui-cong
LI Jian-guo
HUANG Xu-ming
Abstract：It is known that girdling inhibits shoot growth as well as downward translocation of photosynthates via phloem. However,effect of girdling on the translocation of various mineral nutrients is still unclear and awaits further study. In this study,trees of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) cv. Feizixiao were used to examine the effects of branch girdling on shoot growth and mineral nutrients. The results showed that girdling significantly inhibited the growth of new sprouts. The chlorophyll index in leaves above the girdle decreased significantly about 17 days after girdling. Girdling treatment caused differential changes in different mineral nutrients. The treatment hardly affected K and Mg levels in the leaves. N,P,Ca,Fe,Mn,Cu and Zn in both young and old leaves were reduced to various extents,and the reduction in Fe,Mn and Cu concentrations was more significant;it is suggested that the uptake of these nutrients by leaves was inhibited by girdling treatment,which breaks the phloem transport pathway.
Keywords：Litchi(Litchi chinensis Sonn.)GirdlingShoot growthChlorophyllMineral elements
Publication Date：2010-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 257-260 )