Synthetic auxin 3,5,6-TPA promotes fruit development and climacteric in Prunus persica L. Batsch

The application of 3,5,6-TPA advances fruit maturation of peaches and necta rines through different mechanisms, depending on the fruit development stag e at treatment. Treatments applied at pit hardening encourage the developme nt of fruit, which grow faster, reach the climateric stage earlier, and can be harvested earlier. The effect is direct, since the number of fruits per tree is not reduced by the treatment and also can be obtained by applying the auxin locally to a small number of fruits per tree. Treatments applied a few days before climateric increase ethylene production without affecting fruit growth.