ISHS Acta Horticulturae 665: II International Symposium on Lychee, Longan, Rambutan and other Sapindaceae Plants
THE AUSTRALIAN LYCHEE INDUSTRY - AN OVERVIEW |
| Authors: | L.W. Dixon, A.F. Leu, R. Amos, A. Flower |
| Keywords: | IPM, Queensland fruit fly, fertilization, irrigation, nutrition, irrigation, pruning, post harvest handling |
| Abstract:
The Australian industry has about 250 commercial lychee farmers. The commercial lychee growing districts extend for 2,500 km down the east coast. The industry produced 6,000 MT of lychee from October 2001 to April 2002. Most of the crop is consumed in two markets, Sydney and Melbourne. The Australian market is oversupplied at 4,000 MT for the season. 20 to 35% of the lychee crop was exported between 1997 to the 2001/2002 season. The Australian lychee industry only produces fresh fruit. The important cultivars are ‘Tai So’, ‘Bosworth No.3’, ‘Wai Chi’, ‘Fei Zi Xiao’ and ‘Salathiel’. The main production practices involve fertilization, irrigation, pruning and timely pest, disease and weed control. The major pests are Flying Foxes and parrots. There are a few major insect pests. IPM strategies are being developed to manage all of these. The lychee industry is currently implementing sustainable environmental strategies. The Australian Lychee Growers Association (ALGA) is the national peak industry body. The ALGA initiates all R&D and promotion activities and coordinates these with several institutions. Presently the ALGA is revising the strategic plan to put a national levy in place to ensure adequate funds for continuing R&D and promotion. The ALGA in conjunction with Queensland Department of Primary Industries and the Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers is conducting Unlocking Lychee workshops in all growing districts to establish best practice in IPM, nutrition, irrigation scheduling, pruning and post harvest handling. ALGA members are trialing 600 new lychee cultivars hybridized by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. | |
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