APPENDIX 1. CULTIVARS OF MAIN LONGAN CENTRES IN ASIA

China

The popular longan cultivars are:

Guangxi province:	'Dawuyuan'
	'Guangyan'
Guangdong province:	'Chuliang'
	'Shixia'
	'Wuyuan'
Fujian province:	Tuyan'
	'Wulongling'
	'Chike'
	'Dongbi'
	'Honghezi'

The characteristics of the more popular longan cultivars are as follows:

'Chuliang'

'Chuliang' is a native and superior quality longan cultivar in Gaozhou area within the Guangdong Province. It is characterized by:

· large fruit size (average fruit weight of 12.0 - 16.5 g),
· thick and firm aril,
· high aril recovery rate (edible part of 69 - 74 percent),
· sweet with Total Soluble Solids (TSS) of 20 - 23 percent, and
· fragrant flavour.

The cultivar was awarded the Gold Prize at the First China Agricultural Exposition in 1992 and won the title of "Famous Brand Produce" at the Third China Agricultural Exposition in 1997 and also at the China International Agricultural Exposition in 1999 (Liu et al., 2000).

'Shixia'

'Shixia' is another popular longan cultivar in Guangdong Province with a history of about 140 years. The fruit is small, but has crisp, thick and sweet aril with TSS value of 19-20 percent and with good flavour. It is the best cultivar for consuming as fresh fruit and produces heavy crops regularly on unusually large panicles (Menzel et al., 1990).

'Shixia' is planted extensively with lychee by the Yehai Lichee Science and Technology Garden in four localities within Guangdong Province (Dalang town, Dongguan city; Shuikou town, Huiyang city; Silin town, Huadu city; and Jinghong city) and in Jiuzhou town, Qiongtshan city, Hainan province. The longan trees are planted under a high density planting system coupled with constant pruning to produce dwarf trees (Figure 3). This system is reported to be early yielding and produces high and stable yield of quality fruits. Yield of an 8 years old high-density planted dwarf tree was reported to be 2,250 kg per mu (120 trees per mu; 15 mu = 1 ha)(Anon., 1992).

'Wuyuan'

'Wuyuan' (Black Round) is another important longan cultivar in Guangdong province. The fruit is medium in size (15 g) with large seed and soft and juicy aril of average quality. Yield is high and TSS value is 14-15 percent. The fruit is suitable for eating fresh and dried. Seedlings are vigorous and consequently useful as rootstock (Menzel et al., 1990).

'Fuyan'

This is an important longan cultivar in Fujian province and accounted for over 90 percent of plantings in the province. It has a long planting history with total tree numbers exceeding one million. The fruit is large (18 g) with thin skin, small seed and thick crisp aril. Yield is high. It is best used for canning since the fruits have a low TSS value of 15-16 percent (Menzel et al., 1990).

'Wulongling'

This is also a major longan cultivar in Fujian province. It has been in existence for more than 150 years. The fruit is medium in size (15 g) with thick skin, good aril recovery and sweet flavour (TSS of 21-23 percent) (Menzel et al., 1990). 'Wulongling' has a distinct alternate bearing cropping.

Thailand

Popular longan cultivars in Thailand include:

'Daw'

This is the most popular cultivar in Thailand and about 73 percent of the total longan area in the country are planted with this cultivar. It is an early-maturing cultivar as indicated by the name 'Daw' meaning early. Flowering takes place in December and fruit harvesting occurs in late June to early July. The fruits fetch high premium from. foreign markets due to the early harvest. This cultivar is the most consistent bearer and has no alternative bearing problem. In addition, the cultivar is relatively free from infection by witches' broom disease (Subhadrabandhu, 2000). Although the fruit is large it has a big seed and, therefore, low aril recovery rate. The aril, which is sweet and with good flavour, is rather tough and not as crispy when compared to the aril of 'Biew Khiew'. Fruits do not keep well on the tree and the seed may even germinate within the fruit. The fruits can be consumed fresh or processed. This cultivar is normally grown in the northern provinces where the cool winter months are necessary for induction of flowering.

'Chompoo'

This cultivar is well sought after by the Thai people. It is a mid-maturing cultivar which flowers in December to early January and the fruits can be harvested from middle July to early August. The fruit is of medium size, oval in shape and with greenish light brown skin. Its small seed leads to high aril recovery percentage. The aril is slightly pink and thus the name 'Chompoo' meaning pink. It is very sweet (TSS of 21-22 percent) and has a pleasant aroma. The weakness of this cultivar is its irregular cropping habit as a result of poor flowering. For high production, the tree requires high fertilizer application and good management. The cultivar is normally grown in the northern provinces where the cool winter months are necessary for induction of flowering.

'Biew Khiew'

This is another well sought after cultivar. It is a late-maturing cultivar with flowering in late January and harvesting of fruits in late August to September. Mature fruit is round, large, brownish green in colour and has good aril recovery percentage. The aril is crispy, pleasant scented and sweet (TSS of 22 percent) and of excellent quality. The fruit skin is rather thick and, therefore, advantageous to longer shelf life. This cultivar exhibits irregular bearing and is susceptible to witches' broom disorder. It is normally grown in the northern provinces where the cool winter months are necessary for induction of flowering.

'Haew'

This is a late-maturing cultivar with flowering in late January to early February and harvesting of fruits in mid to late August. The fruit is medium to large in size with rather small seed and has an average recovery percentage. The aril is firm and of good eating quality. The fruit rind is rather rough and thick and, therefore, advantageous for longer shelf life. This cultivar flowers easily and produces heavily. Its weakness is its alternate bearing habit. The fruits are suitable for canning. This cultivar is normally grown in the northern provinces where the cool winter months are necessary for induction of flowering.

'Dang'

This is a mid-maturing cultivar whose fruits can be harvested in mid-July to early August. Fruit is large with reddish brown rind. However, it also has quite a large seed leading to rather poor recovery percentage. With maturity the fruit's quality declines. Its productivity and quality are similar to those of 'Daw'. The trees are susceptible to waterlogging.

'Baidum'

This is a mid-maturing cultivar which flowers in late December to early January and harvesting of fruits is around mid-July to early August. The fruit is medium in size with rough rind, small seed and an average aril recovery percentage. The aril is of acceptable flavour, crispy, very sweet and is bright white in colour. This cultivar is a regular bearer and can withstand drought quite well.

'Talub Nak'

This is an early-maturing cultivar whose fruits are harvested in mid to late July. Fruit is medium in size, with small seed and a high aril recovery percentage. The aril, which is bright white in colour, is less sweet when compared to those of other cultivars. This cultivar can produce well when given good management.

'Phetsakon'

This cultivar is different from all the other cultivars described in the preceding section. It is a lowland cultivar which does not require a cool climate for induction of flowering. 'Phetsakon' is an early-maturing cultivar and it flowers readily. It is grown in the central region of the country in Samut Sakhon and Ratchaburi provinces.

Taiwan Province of China

The characteristics of the more popular longan cultivars in Taiwan Province of China are as follows:

'Fengko'

This is the most popular longan cultivar in Taiwan Province of China and over 98 percent of the longan area are planted with this cultivar. The cultivar is a good yielder. Fruit is evenly large in size. Colour of fruit rind is yellowish brown which becomes brighter at low temperature. The aril is very sweet with a TSS value of about 20 percent. Fruits are not easily detached from the stalk which is considered as a good quality. Propagation by grafting usually yields a high percentage of success.

'Hongko'

This cultivar is grown mainly in the southern region of Taiwan Province of China. It is a good yielder. The fruit is of reasonably large size with fruit rind dark brown in colour. The sweetness of the aril is less than that of 'Fengko'.

'Chingko'

The fruit rind is light brownish green when ripe. The quality of the fruit is easily affected by environmental conditions. The aril is less sweet when compared to that of 'Fengko'. Fruits are easily detached from the stalk and this is considered to be of a poor quality.

Vietnam

The cultivars planted in the various regions in Vietnam are:

Mekong delta	: 'Longnhan'
	: 'Tieuhue'
	: 'Xuongcomvang'
Northern region	: 'Longhungyen'
Southeast region	: 'Tieuhue'
	: 'Xuongcomvang'

The characteristics of the more popular longan cultivars in Vietnam are as follows:

'Longnhan'

This is a truly tropical longan which can yield two crops per year.

'Tieuhue'

This is also a true tropical longan which can yield three crops in two years.

'Longhungyen'

This longan thrives only in subtropical conditions and produces only one crop per year.

Other important longan cultivar

'Kohala'

In Florida, the 'Kohala' is reliable in its blooming and fruiting. The trees are also easily propagated by air-layering. Fruit of 'Kohala' is light and thin-skinned. It is large in size, and has a sweet aroma with a spicy flavour. Fruit generally has a high aril recovery percentage. Air-layered trees will begin bearing-very early, and a three-year old tree may carry 10 kg of fruit. The flower panicle is normally pruned to 2/3 its size in order to obtain large fruit size.