Thai Longan Fruit, Longan Out Off Season

Use of Ethephon and Monopotassiumphosphate Combined with Potassium Chlorate to Induce Off-season Flowering of Longan cv. Daw in Rainy Season

Study on using ethephon and monopotassiumphosphate combined with potassium chlorate to induce off-season flowering of longan cv. Daw in rainy season was carried out during 12 May 2010 to 15 December 2010. The experiment was designed base on completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 5 replications as followed; 1) control (no potassium chlorate and no foliar spray with fertilizer) 2) soil drench with potassium chlorate at 15 g /m2 of canopy diameter 3) foliar spray with fertilizer 0-52-34 1% and ethephon 400 mg/L and 4) soil drench with potassium chlorate at 15 g /m2 combined with foliar spray with fertilizer 0-52-34 1% and ethephon 400 mg/L. The result revealed that longan plants treated with potassium chlorate at 15 g /m2 as soil drench combined with 1% of 0-52-34 and ethephon 400 mg/L was induced off-season flowering in rainy season and flowered ealier 7 days than only potassium chlorate treatment up to 7 days. Moreover, this treatment gave the highest percentage of flowering (86%), flower panicle type (100%), perfect flower (15%) and fruit setting (92%), while as only potassium chlorate treatment had the percentage of flowering (66%), flower panicle type (46%) and fruit setting (52%). However, the control treatment and only foliar spray with 1% of 0-52-34 and ethephon 400 mg/L treatment were not produced flower at all.
Refer:http://web.agri.cmu.ac.th/agjournal/content.asp?JID=118&CID=879

Longan and Medicinal Properties

Longan fruit contains hight amount of Ellagic acid which is a gallotannin. This tannin has strong antioxidant property and can accelerate the decline of cancer cells, without affecting normal cells.Dried longan flesh or seed extract can induce death of large intestinal cancer cells.
Furthermore longan seed also contains Elagic and curcitin which can help to prevent bone and tissue deterioration which is the cause of knee pain,knee deteriorate and muscle inflammaton. It helps to reduce blood vessel contraction caused by norepinephrine. Longan seed extracted can also inhibit malaria infection.
Additionally,they also found other types of lignin and polysaccharide substances which have anti-cancer properties and can stimulate body immunity against bacteria and Candida glabrata as well. Tannin is a very useful substance in easing diarrhea.It will bind to the protein of the organisms so that they can do no harm to our body.
Refer: Maejo Longan Research and Development Center

Longan Auspicious Fruit

Longan is a very sweet and juicy fruit grown mostly in Southeast Asian region such as China,Thailand and Vietnam Longan is consumed as fresh fruit, whole dry fruit or in various form of processed products such as cabbed longan,juice,etc. Longan is called"Long Yian"(Dragon eyes) in Chinese.The dragon is sacred animal in Chinese culture and it is believed that those who kill a dragon,and eat the dragon's scales will gain supernatural power.Eating the head,tail and eyes of the dragon will increase life energy.
The Chinese since , no matter rich or poor will eat at least two longan fruits during longan season to help enhance their life throughout the year.After that they will thrown the two longon seeds on the roof believing that longan seeds represent the dragon eyess, and will guard and protect them from calamity. The Chinese believe that longon has tonic properties for nourishing the heart and spleen.It is good for sick and unhealthy people such as women after giving birth or having heavy menstrual bleeding,convalescent patient,people with appetite loss or indegestion.It also help nourish our blood,assists with sleeping,and releases stress and anxiety.
According to the Thai traditional therapeutics,longon is a health-promoting fruit that helps people with poor nutrition,insomnia,forgetfulness and irregular heart beat. It helps treat diarrhea,nourishing body and mind and treat edema in women after giving birth.It also is suitable for persistent weakness and helps those suffering from insomnia and stomach problem including indigestion,gas and bloating,and white and thickened tongue.
Additional longan is a major source of energy due to its high sugar,protein and carbohydrate content.The Srichompoo variety has the the highest protein and sugar content of 8.5 and 52.4 g/kg respectively while variety E-Daw has the highest carbohydrate content of 885.2g/kg