Study on the Relationship Between the Quality of Fruit-bearing Shoot, Fruit Setting and Fruit Quality in 'Xianjinfeng' Litchi

【Objective】This study aimed to investigate and analyze the correlation between the quality of fruit-bearing shoots in 'Xianjinfeng' litchi and fruit setting and fruit quality. Tthe effects of different quality fruit-bearing shoots on fruit setting and quality were compared. The quantitative standard of high quality fruit branches was put forward to provide reference for the development of strong fruit branches in production.【Method】During the key phenological period, the quality indicators of fruit-bearing shoots in 'Xianjinfeng' litchi, including length, diameter, and number of leaves, were measured and statistically analyzed. Number of initial fruit setting and final fruit setting with fruit quality were also assessed. Violin plots, Pearson correlation coefficients, and one-way ANOVA were utilized to analyze the distribution, correlation, and significance of the data, as well as to compare the differences in fruit setting and quality among fruit-bearing shoots of different qualities.【Result】The length, diameter, and number of leaves of fruit-bearing shoots in 'Xianjinfeng' litchi were concentrated within the ranges of 10.2-14.5 cm, 0.4-0.5 cm, and 28-38 leaves, respectively. The number of initial fruit setting exhibited a significant positive correlation with the diameter of the mother branches, while the final fruit setting rate showed a significant positive correlation with both length and diameter. The correlation between the length, diameter, and number of leaves of fruit-bearing shoots and the same fruit quality traits was generally consistent, either positively or negatively correlated. Notably, single fruit weight demonstrated a significant positive correlation with diameter, while TSS (Total Soluble Solids) and TSS/TA (Total Soluble Solids/Titratable Acidity) showed a significant positive correlation with the number of leaves. Fruit-bearing shoots with a length greater than 14.5 cm exhibited the highest initial fruit setting number (16.95 fruits) and final fruit setting rate (20.73%). Fruit-bearing shoots with a diameter greater than 0.5 cm exhibited the highest initial fruit setting number (15.48 fruits), final fruit setting rate (28.03%), single fruit weight (26.28 g), and edible rate (70.95%). Fruit-bearing shoots with more than 38 leaves exhibited the highest TSS (18.36%) and TSS/TA (250.81).【Conclusion】Based on the findings, a robust standard for fruit-bearing shoots in 'Xianjinfeng' litchi was determined as having a length greater than 14.5 cm, diameter greater than 0.5 cm, and number of leaves greater than 38.