(58(3):208-218)A New Variety of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) ‘Tainung No.3

荔枝「台農3號」(75-S-1-4)是農業試驗所嘉義分所歷經20年選育而成，於民國95年12月通過農委會果樹品種審議委員會審議，並於民國96年3月取得品種權。本品種果實品質優良，單果重在23g至29g，種子重在1.0g至3.2g，果肉率在67%至75%，可溶性固形物含量在17.4° Brix至20.2° Brix，可滴定酸在0.12%至0.17%之間，果肉Q並帶有如玫瑰般的特殊香氣，果皮顏色如紅玫瑰般的鮮紅美豔，果棘圓鈍，果皮縫合線明顯，縫合線兩邊的果皮會略微突起，果皮易從縫合線剝開，且剝開後果肉易從果蒂脫落，因此食用時，果肉及果汁不沾手，為其一大特點。A new litchi variety 'Tainung No.3 Rose Red' was bred by the Chia Yi Agricultural Experiment station, Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, and released on December, 2006. The name 'Rose Red' litchi refers to the fruit with rose fragrance of aril and red rose color of peel. The fruit weight, seed weight, aril percentage, total soluble solids and titratable acidity of 'Tainung No.3 Rose Red' are 23-29 g, 1.0-3.2 g, 67-75%, 17.4-20.2° Brix and 0.12-0.17%, respectively, better then the control cultivar 'Hak Yip'. The flesh is firm. The peel segments are swelling and the protuberances are protruding. The surture is obvious. It is easy to rip the peel off the aril from the suture. The harvest period is from late June to early July. It is 7-27 days later than that of 'Hak Yip' which is the major cultivar in Taiwan. It is easy to plant 'Tainung No.3 Rose red' in every litchi producing region in Taiwan. With the better fruit quality and comparably higher yield, 'Tainung No.3 Rose red' is an exciting candidate for litchi growers looking for new varieties to replace 'Hak Yip' and to exploit the economic potential of litchi production in Taiwan