EFFECT OF 3,5,6-TRICHLORO-2-PYRIDYL-OXYACETIC ACID ON FRUITLET ABSCISSION AND YIELD OF MAURITIUS LITCHI (LITCHI-CHINENSIS SONN)

'Mauritius', the main cultivar in Israel's litchi industry, tends to s uffer from massive fruitlet drop. Recently, spraying 'Mauritius' trees with 2,4,5-TP at the ca. 2 g fruitlet stage was shown to improve grea tly productivity due to a reduction in fruitlet drop. Here we examine another synthetic auxin, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl-oxyacetic acid (3,5 ,6-TPA), used in the commercial product Maxim(R). We found it to be as effective as 2,4,5-TP in reducing 'Mauritius' fruitlet drop. In seven commercial-scale trials, spraying with 25 or 50 ppm 3,5,6-TPA consist ently and significantly increased 'Mauritius' yields relative to non-s prayed controls. Therefore 3,5,6-TPA is recommended for routine use in 'Mauritius' orchards.