Abstract

This study investigated types of aborted seed, embryo abortion period and fruit quality changes during the development process of ‘Wuheli’ litchi. ‘Wuheli’ litchi has four types of seeds: normal seeds, later aborted seeds, middle aborted seeds and early aborted seeds (similar to aborted ovules). The three types of abnormal seeds resulted from embryo abortion, whose pyrenes, similar to an aborted ovule, are not caused by parthenocarpy. Middle aborted (when abortion occurs to globular embryos and heart-shaped embryos) and late aborted (when abortion occurs during rapid growth period of torpedo embryos and cotyledons) seeds consist of the highest number of arils and aril ratio. Their fruits also contain a higher proportion of Total Soluble Solids (TSS) and a lower percentage of titratable acidity (TA). In terms of the characteristics of aborted seeds of ‘Wuheli’ litchi, early aborted seeds (when abortion occurs before formation of globular embryos) have no effect on improving the aril ratio of fruits.

Key words: ‘Dazao’, embryogenesis, shriveled seed, parthenocarpy, seedlessness.