Studies in the Turkish Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.): IV. Acidic Auxin-like and Inhibitory Substances in Fruit Morphogenesis

Ceratonia siliqua L. exhibited a sigmoid growth pattern with each stage being controlled by specific substances. At least three auxin-like substances were involved during fruit morphogenesis with the main one being at indole-acetic acid Rf. Auxin-like substances were present at highest level during stage II, when fruit showed active growth, but decreased at the arrival of stage III. The inhibiting substance I1, at abscissic acid Rf, was present at the highest level at this stage. However, I2, detected towards the last stages of development, was not present at a significant level. The results obtained have been discussed in detail.