Peroxidases and ethylene formation in olive tree leaves

The loss of intercellular peroxidases from olive tree leaf sections subjected to isoelectric focusing correlates well with the capacity of the referred sections to convert 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) into ethylene. Both activities are compared in leaves of different ages (according to their position on the branch) and it is found that they follow a parallel course. The inhibition of the capacity to convert ACC into ethylene in homogenized olive tree leaves is due to inhibitors release. The results, in relation to other authors' reports, are discussed.