Report on Fuyuan, a large-size new variety of longan with high yield and quality

Abstract: Fuyuan is a new variety of longan (Dimocarpns longan L.) selected from a crossing between Lidongben (extremely late maturing and high yield) and Qingkebaoyuan (large size and high quality) made in May, 1996 by the Fruit Research Institute of Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The new variety exhibits outstanding phenotypes as large fruit size, high quality and late ripening. The fruit-setting trees are precocious with semi-open crown medium vigor and easy formation of flower buds. and high fruit setting. The flesh is milky white, translucent, tender, slightly juicy and easily free from seed. The average fruit weight is 14.6 g, the maximum fruit weight is 18.2 g. The soluble solid content is 21.9%, reducing sugars content 6.5 g · 100 g^-1, total sugar content 17.9 g · 100 g^-1, vitamin C content 90.7 mg·100 g^-1, and the edible rate is up to 69.4%. The fruit harvest period is from the mid to the late September in Fuzhou area. The shoots start inflorescence differentiation in mid-late March, flowering starts in early May, and finishes in mid-May. This new cultivar is capable to produce stable and high yields each year. The fruit weight of each cluster is up to 1 190.5 g, and the average yield of 3-years trees was 4320 kg·hm ^-2 (600 plants) in addition, the variety has good ability of continuous fruiting habit with potential to overcome the biennial fruiting problem.