Identification of Chilling Accumulation-Associated Genes for Litchi Flowering by Transcriptome-Based Genome-Wide Association Studies.

Litchi is an important Sapindaceae fruit tree. Flowering in litchi is triggered by low temperatures in autumn and winter. It can be divided into early-, medium-, and late-flowering phenotypes according to the time for floral induction.

RNA-seq analysis of apical meristem reveals integrative regulatory network of ROS and chilling potentially related to flowering in Litchi chinensis.

Litchi is an important woody fruit tree. Floral initiation in litchi is triggered by low temperatures. However, defective flowering is a major challenge for litchi production in times of climate change and global warming.