Big Five-Star

Big Five-Star

　　Big Five-Star loquat is a famous specialty of Longquanyi District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province. This variety is a high-quality, large-fruited new type of loquat bred through open-pollinated seed selection in 1978. It was named Big Five-Star because of the large, deep five-pointed star shape at its calyx end.

　　Big Five-Star loquat is a high-quality, large-fruited new variety of loquat cultivated in Longquanyi District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, through open-pollinated seed selection in 1978. It was named Big Five-Star because of the large, deep five-pointed star shape at its calyx end. Due to its superior quality and large fruit size, it won the silver award (the highest award in the loquat category) at the 1999 Kunming World Horticultural Exposition. Currently, in Chengdu’s Longquanyi area, its market price is 1–2 times higher than that of other premium varieties, hence earning it the title “King of Loquats.” 59h

　　The tree canopy of the Big Five-Star loquat is round-crowned with a distinct main trunk. The terminal buds are either flower or leaf buds, which are large and exposed, lacking scale coverings and covered externally with rusty yellow downy fuzz. Axillary buds are flat, green, triangular, and very small. The leaves are oblanceolate or long elliptical in shape, tapering to a point at the tip and narrowing at the base. The upper edges have sparse, shallow serrations, while the base is entire. Mature leaves are dark green on the upper surface, rough in texture, and covered with sparse yellowish down on the underside. Young leaves are bluish-green, densely covered with grayish fuzz on both sides. The inflorescence is a terminal conical mixed flower cluster, with the peduncle and pedicels densely covered in rusty-colored fuzz. The calyx tube is shallowly cup-shaped, and the sepals are triangular-ovate. 59h

　　The Big Five-Star loquat fruit is nearly round, with an average single fruit weight of 60.4 grams and a maximum weight of 77.7 grams. The peel is easily removable and orange-red in color. The flesh is orange-red, with an edible rate of over 73.24%, and a soluble solid content of 12–15%. The taste is richly sweet, juicy, and the flesh is soft and tender. The flowering period is from September to November, and the fruit ripens from May to June. Currently, the cultivation area in Longquanyi District exceeds 40,000 mu. 59h