Abstract: Effects of twig girdling at different shoot stages in spring and autumm on new shot growth and starch accumulation in the twigs of litchi (Litchi chinenis Sonn．CV．Huaizhi)were studied．Girdling significantly inhibited the new shot growth， resulted in the formation of swelling callus above the girdle and
significant thickening， and caused massive accumulation of starch in the twigs. The inhibitory efect on shot growth and stimulative effect on starch accumulation of girdling in autumn were significantly stronger than the treatment in spring．Girdling position，i．e．distance from girdle to base of new shot or apical bud(L) and the area of the old leaves above the girdle did not influence the inhibitory efect of giIdliIlg．However，there was a significant positive correlation between starch accum ulation and the ratio of S/L．i．e．leaf area in unit length of shot．The stage of new shot development exerted a significant influence on the inhibitory effect of saalms．The new shot hardly grew when girdling Was done before the bud elongated．while there was considerable new shot growth when girdling at rapid elongation stage．

Key words: Litchi, Girdling, Shot growth, Starch accumulation