`Mauritius' Lychee Fruit Development and Reduced Abscission after Treatment with the Auxin 2,4,5-TP

TLDR: Tipimon consistently and significantly increased marketable fruit yield when applied between the two abscission periods in 'Mauritius' lychee.

Abstract: Fruit development and abscission in 'Mauritius' lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) were studied over three consecutive seasons. Each season, two distinct abscission periods were observed. The first started at the end of full female bloom and continued for ≈ 4 weeks. Of the initial number of female flowers, 85 % to 90 % abscised during this period. The second period began after a lag period of ≈ ≈ 1 week and lasted ≈ 2 weeks. About half of the remaining fruitlets abscised during this wave. AU of these fruitlets contained an embryo. The second wave coincided with a period of rapid embryo growth and endosperm loss. Tipimon (a commercial product containing the triethanolamine salt of the synthetic auxin 2,4,5-TP) consistently and significantly increased marketable fruit yield when applied between the two abscission periods. Chemical name used: 2,4,5 -trichlorophenoxy propionic acid (2,4,5 -TP).