Cellulase Activity, Endogenous Abscisic Acid, and Ethylene in Four Citrus Cultivars during Maturation

At maturity, the fruit of two early maturing orange cultivars, Hamlin and Pineapple (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck), contained more ethylene and abscisic acid than the late maturing Valencia and Lamb Summer (C. sinensis [L.] Osbeck) cultivars. Ethylene (up to 95 nl/l in internal atmosphere) and abscisic (50 μg/kg dry weight flavedo) increased most rapidly in Pineapple, leading to increased cellulase activity and loosening of the fruit. Fruit of the two late maturing cultivars contained less than 25 nl/1 ethylene and 40 μg abscisic acid/kg dry weight of flavedo at peak maturity. Cellulase activity and loosening of the fruit of these late maturing cultivars was slight.     

The effect of lead,cadmium, and mercury on the increase in length of five intertidal fucales

The increase in length of Pelvetia canaliculata (L.) Dec. et Thur., Fucus spiralis L., F. vesiculosus L., F. serratus L., and Ascophyllym nodosum (L.) Le Jolis was measured in various concentrations of lead, cadmium, and mercury during a period of 9–10 days. Concentration ranges of the three metals were 45 2600 μg 1, 1.5 1040 μg 1 and 0.9 1250 μg 1, respectively.Significant reductions of growth rate compared with the controls were observed at ? 810 μg 1 of lead, ? 450 μg/l of cadmium, and ? 10 μg/l of mercury, and regressions of growth reduction on log concentration were indicated.Growth was significantly enhanced in Pelvetia canaliculata and Ascophyllum nodosum when exposed to cadmium, and in this case there was a significant regression of growth iincrease on log concentration. The growth of Pelvetia canaliculata was also enhanced at all concentrations of lead.     

Probing the role of endogenous ethylene in the degreening of citrus fruit with ethylene antagonists

The ethylene antagonists, 2,5-norbornadiene (NBD) and silver nitrate, were used to probe the involvement of endogenous ethylene in the natural degreening of citrus fruit. Mature-green, detached Shamouti orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) fruit were treated with NBD vapor or dipped in solutions of silver nitrate. More than 80% of the chlorophyll was lost from control fruit after 8 days. NBD (0.11 mmole/liter) inhibited the loss of chlorophyll by 60%. NBD also antagonized the degreening induced by exogenous ethylene by 50%. Silver nitrate (0.1 mM) inhibited the loss of chlorophyll by 55%. Ethylene evolution of mature, green detached fruit was <2 nl.fruit^-1.h^-1 (ca. 13.5 nl.Kg^-1FW.h^-1) and did not change significantly for 7 days after harvest. NBD concentrations up to 0.22 mmole/liter did not enhance ethylene evolution. Not with-standing the extremely low amounts of ethylene evolved, the inhibition of degreening by NBD and silver nitrate suggests that endogenous ethylene is involved in the control of this process in mature citrus fruit.     

Responses of banana fruit to treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene

Experiments were conducted to determine levels of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) exposure needed to prevent ethylene-stimulated banana fruit ripening, characterise responses of ethylene-treated fruit to subsequent treatment with 1-MCP, and to test effects of subsequent ethylene treatment on 1-MCP-treated fruit softening. Fruit softening was measured at 20°C and 90% relative humidity. One hour exposure at 20°C to 1000 nl 1-MCP/l essentially eliminated ethylene-stimulated ripening effects. Exposure for 12 h at 20°C to just 50 nl 1-MCP/l was similarly effective. Fruit ripening initiated by ethylene treatment could also be delayed with subsequent 1-MCP treatment. However, 1-MCP treatment only slowed down ripening of ethylene-treated fruit when applied at 1 day after ethylene and was ineffective when applied 3 or 5 days after ethylene treatment. The ripening response of fruit treated with 1-MCP and subsequently treated with ethylene varied with interval time between 1-MCP and ethylene treatments. As time increased, the response of 1-MCP-treated fruit to ethylene was enhanced. Responses to 0.1, 1, 10 or 100 µl ethylene/l concentrations were similar. Enzyme kinetic analysis applied to 1-MCP effects on ethylene-induced softening of banana fruit suggested that 1-MCP inhibition is by noncompetitive antagonism of ethylene binding.     

Effects of temperature, water potential, and light on germination responses of redroot pigweed seeds to ethylene

The responses of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) seeds to nine ethylene concentrations between 0.5 and 50 microliters per liter were assessed at different temperatures and water potentials and in either continuous white light or darkness. Under all experimental treatments, the probit-transformed percentages increased linearly with the log of the ethylene concentration. In dormant seeds, the slope of the response line was unaffected by either light or water potential but increased with decreasing temperature. Conversely, the slope increased with increasing temperature in a partially afterripened seed lot.     

The effect of zinc on the increase in length of five species of intertidal fucales

The growth rate of Pelvetia canaliculata (L.) Dec. et Thur., Fucus spiralis L., F. vesiculosus L., F. serratus L., and Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jolis was measured in six different concentrations of zinc (0.025–14 mg/l) during a period of ten days. No significant growth response was observed at 0.1 mg/l of zinc. A significant reduction of growth during the first two to three days of exposure to 1.4 mg/l or more was followed by no or small further decline. Apices of A. nodosum from localities with different background load of zinc (0.1–0.5 mg/l and <0.01 mg/l) showed no difference in response to 2.6 mg/l of zinc.     

Starch Synthetase, Phosphorylase, ADPglucose Pyrophosphorylase, and UDPglucose Pyrophosphorylase in Developing Maize Kernels

Three types of whole plant experiments are presented to substantiate the concept that an important function of ethylene in abscission is to reduce the transport of auxin from the leaf to the abscission zone. (a) The inhibitory effect of ethylene on auxin transport, like ethylene-stimulated abscission, persists only as long as the gas is continuously present. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Stoneville 213) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Resistant Black Valentine) plants placed in 14 μl/l of ethylene for 24 or 48 hours showed an increase in leaf abscission and a reduced capacity to transport auxin; but when returned to air, auxin transport gradually increased and abscission ceased. (b) Ethylene-induced abscission and auxin transport inhibition show similar sensitivities to temperature. A 24-hour exposure of cotton plants to 14 μl/l of ethylene at 8 C resulted in no abscission and no significant inhibition of auxin transport. Increasing the temperature during ethylene treatment resulted in a progressively greater reduction in auxin transport with abscission occurring at [unk]27 C where auxin transport was inhibited over 70%. (c) Auxin pretreatment reduced both ethylene-induced abscission and auxin transport inhibition. No abscission occurred, and auxin transport was inhibited only 18% in cotton plants which were pretreated with 250 mg/l of naphthalene acetic acid and then placed in 14 μl/l of ethylene for 24 hours. In contrast, over 30% abscission occurred, and auxin transport was inhibited 58% in the corresponding control plants.     

Autoinhibition of Ethylene Formation in Nonripening Stages of the Fruit of Sycomore Fig (Ficus sycomorus L.)

Differences in the mechanism of ethylene emanation of Ficus sycomorus L. during various stages of the fruit development were investigated by enclosing the figs in jars. Two distinct patterns of ethylene emanation were found. Pattern a. in stages not capable of ripening, neither spontaneously nor as a result of physiological treatment (nonripening stages A and C), ethylene concentration in the jar increased linearly for a short time and then remained constant. Pattern b. in stages capable of ripening (ripening stages B, D, and E), the linear increase in ethylene concentration continued for the entire period of measurement. In nonripening stages, ethylene emanation stopped when ethylene concentration in the jar reached a constant value (0.6 μl/l at stage C). Aeration of the figs and the jar renewed ethylene emanation. CO₂ concentration in the jar never exceeded 0.5%. Treatment of stage C figs with 0.6 to 10 μl/l exogenous ethylene caused immediate and complete cessation of ethylene emanation whereas the same treatment did not cause any change in rate of ethylene emanation from figs at the ripening stages B and D. Gashing (wounding) of stage C figs temporarily changed the pattern of ethylene emanation from pattern a to pattern b.     

Ethylene synthesis and growth in embryogenic tissue of Norway spruce: Effects of oxygen, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, benzyladenine and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

Ethylene production from an embryogenic culture of Norway spruce ( Picea abies L.) was generally low. ca 2.5 nl g⁻¹ h⁻¹, whereas 1-aminocyclopropane-1 -carboxylic acid (ACC) concentration was high, fluctuating between 50 and 500 nmol g⁻¹ during the 11-day incubation period. Hypoxia (2.5 and 5 kPa O₂) rapidly inhibited ethylene production without subsequent accumulation of ACC. Exogenous ACC (1, 10 and 100 μ M ) did not increase ethylene production, but the highest concentrations inhibited tissue growth. Ethylene (7 μl I⁻¹) did not inhibit growth either when supplied as ethephon in the medium or in a continuous flow system. Benzyladenine (BA) had little effect on ethylene production, although it was necessary for sustaining the ACC level. Omission of 2.4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid (2.4-D) from the medium caused ethylene production to increase from about 2.5 to 7 nl g⁻¹ h⁻¹ within the 11-day incubation period. Although 2.4-D did not specifically alter the endogenous level of ACC, the lowest ACC level, 33 nmol g⁻¹, was observed in tissue treated with 2.4-D (22.5 μ M ) and no BA for 11 days. Data from this treatment were used to estimate the kinetic constants for ACC oxidase, the apparent K_m was 50 μ M and V_max 2.7 nl g⁻¹ h⁻¹. Growth of the tissue was strongly inhibited by 2.4-D in the absence of BA, but weakly in the presence of BA (4.4 μ M ). The results suggest that ethylene or ACC may be involved in the induction of embryogenic tissue and in the early stages of embryo maturation.     

The influence of ionic concentration on population parameters,development time,activity, and respiration rate of Arctodiaptomus spinosus (Daday) (Calanoida,Copepoda)

Summary For A. spinosus, significant correlations were found between population parameters and the ecological parameters of alkalinity and temperature. For the birth rate, 43.33% of variance is explained by alkalinity and 56.33% by alkalinity and temperature. Alkalinity, and alkalinity and temperature combined account for 48.22% and 70.23% respectively of the observed variances in nauplii hatching. It was demonstrated that, provided sufficient time for adaptation is allowed, the activity of individuals is not affected by differences in the alkalinity of the medium within the normal range of concentration. Embryonic development does not appear to be influenced by the ionic concentration, but significant increases in time of development of the nauplii (at alkalinity 100 meq/l: 8.8 days/20°C) and of the copepodites (at alkalinity 100 meq/l: 12.6 days/20°C) were recorded at both low and high ionic concentrations. The lowest respiration rates (3.7 nl O₂·h^-1·g dw^-1/20°C) occurred at an alkalinity of 100 meq/l. Rates increased at lower (10 meq/l: 5.7 nl) and at higher (400 meq/l: 11.9 nl) alkalinities.     

Mechanism of specific inhibition of phototropism by phenylacetic Acid in corn seedling

Using geotropism as a control for phototropism, compounds similar to phenylacetic acid that photoreact with flavins and/or have auxin-like activity were examined for their ability to specifically inhibit phototropism in corn seedlings using geotropism as a control. Results using indole-3-acetic acid, napthalene-1-acetic acid, naphthalene-2-acetic acid, phenylacetic acid, and β-phenylpyruvic acid suggest that such compounds will specifically inhibit phototropism primarily because of their photoreactivity with flavins and not their auxin activity. For example, strong auxins, indole-3-acetic acid and naphthalene-1-acetic acid, affected both tropic responses at all concentrations tested whereas weak auxins, phenylacetic acid and naphthalene-2-acetic acid, exhibited specific inhibition. In addition, the in vivo concentration of phenylacetic acid required to induce specificity was well below that required to stimulate coleoptile growth. Estimates of the percentage of photoreceptor pigment inactivated by phenylacetic acid (>10%) suggest that phenylacetic acid could be used to photoaffinity label the flavoprotein involved in corn seedling phototropism.     

Fruit age and changes in abscisic Acid content, ethylene production, and abscission rate of cotton fruits

The relationships of fruit age, abscisic acid (ABA) concentration, ethylene evolution, and abscission rates were studied in an effort to determine why cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L., cv. Deltapine 16) fruits rarely abscise more than 15 days after anthesis. Because abscission of cotton fruits is increased by conditions that limit photosynthesis, greenhouse-grown plants with fruits of various ages were placed in dim light for 3 days to induce high rates of fruit abscission. Abscission rates, ABA concentrations, and ethylene evolution rates were determined for fruits of various ages. Almost all of the young fruits abscised, but abscission rate declined with age until almost no abscission was observed in fruits that were 15 or more days past anthesis.     

Promotion of growth and hydrogen ion efflux by auxin in roots of maize pretreated with ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors

Low concentrations of auxin (e.g. 10⁻¹⁰m) do not promote the growth of intact seedling roots of maize (Zea mays L. Bear Hybrid WF 9 × 38). Higher concentrations are inhibitory. When the roots are pretreated with the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors, cobalt and aminoethoxyvinylglycine, auxin (10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁸m) strongly promotes their growth. The promotion of growth by auxin in pretreated roots is preceded by enhanced hydrogen ion secretion from the roots. The data indicate that hormone-enhanced hydrogen ion secretion may play a role in the rapid promotion of root growth by auxin. The ability of auxin to promote the growth of intact roots is discussed in relation to the Cholodny/Went hypothesis of hormonal control of root geotropism.     

Ethylene-induced Leaf Abscission Is Promoted by Gibberellic Acid

Gibberellic acid (GA₃) promoted leaf abscission from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants exposed to ethylene. With mature plants, only the rate of abscission was increased, but when vegetative plants were exposed to ethylene for 4 days or less, the amount of abscission was increased markedly. Promotion of abscission occurred at near saturating ethylene levels (10 μl/liter), over a wide range of GA₃ concentrations, and with both GA₃ and GA₇.     

Ethylene, a regulator of young fruit abscission

In an earlier study we reported that detached cotton flowers produced sufficient ethylene before the period of natural abscission to suggest that ethylene might be a natural regulator of young fruit abscission. The present report explores this probability further. Intact cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fruits produced ethylene at rates as high as 36 μl ethylene/kg fresh wt·hr during the 2 days before they abscised. Direct measurements of ethylene in gas samples withdrawn from fruits indicated that production of 1 μl ethylene/kg fresh wt·hr is equivalent to an internal concentration of approximately 0.1 μl/l. Fumigation of fruiting cotton plants with only 0.5 μl/l caused 100% abscission of young fruits and floral buds within 2 days. This correlated with the estimated endogenous levels of ethylene. Reduced pressure, which reduced the internal levels of ethylene, delayed abscission of young fruits and leaves, a result which supports our conclusion from this study— that ethylene is one of the regulators of young fruit abscission in cotton.     

Auxin and Ethylene Regulation of Petiole Epinasty in Two Developmental Mutants of Tomato, diageotropica and Epinastic

The epinastic growth responses of petioles to auxin and ethylene were quantified in two developmental mutants of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). In the wild type parent line, cultivar VFN8, the epinastic response of excised petiole sections was approximately log-linear between 0.1 and 100 micromolar indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) concentrations, with a greater response to 2,4-D at any concentration. When ethylene synthesis was inhibited by aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), epinasty was no longer induced by auxin, but could be restored by the addition of ethylene gas. In the auxin-insensitive mutant, diageotropica (dgt), no epinastic response to IAA was observed at IAA concentrations that effectively induced epinasty in VFN8. In the absence of added IAA, epinastic growth of dgt petioles in 1.3 microliters per liter exogenous ethylene gas was more than double that of VFN8 petioles. IAA had little additional effect in dgt, but promoted epinasty in VFN8. These results confirm that tomato petiole cells respond directly to ethylene and make it unlikely that the differential growth responsible for epinasty results from lateral auxin redistribution. The second mutant, Epinastic (Epi), exhibits constitutively epinasty, cortical swelling, and root branching symptomatic of possible alternation in auxin or ethylene regulation of growth. Only minor quantitative differences were observed between the epinastic responses to auxin and ethylene of VFN8 and Epi. However, in contrast to VFN8, when ethylene synthesis or action was inhibited in Epi, auxin still induced 40 to 50% of the epinastic response observed in the absence of inhibitors. This indicates that the target cells for epinastic growth in Epi are qualitatively different from those of VFN8, having gained the ability to grow differentially in response to auxin alone. The dgt and Epi mutants provide useful systems in which to study the genetic determination of target cell specificity for hormone action.     

The Role of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid in the Control of Low Temperature Induced Ethylene Production in Leaf Tissue of Phaseolus vulgaris L .

Ethylene production from leaf discs of dwarf bean (Phaseolausvulgaris L.) was less than 02 nl g^–1 h^–1 at 5 Cbut rapidly increased tenfold on transfer to 25 C. The lowethylene production at 5 C and the potential for overshootproduction on transfer to 25C were not associated with accumulationof the ethylene synthesis intermediate 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylicacid (ACC). Addition of exogenous ACC to leaf discs incubatedat 5C increased ethylene production, while similarly incubatedleaf discs did not synthesize increasing amounts of endogenousACC until they were transferred to 25 C. The basis for theovershoot in ethylene production when leafdiscs were transferredfrom 5 to 25 C appears to reside in changes to the pathwayleading to the synthesis of ACC or an earlier intermediate inthe pathway of ethylene biosynthesis. Ethylene, 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid, Phuseolru vulgaris L., dwarf bean, temperature     

Abscission: the role of ethylene modification of auxin transport

The role of ethylene-mediated reduction of auxin transport in natural and ethylene-induced leaf abscission was studied in the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L., cv. Stoneville 213) cotyledonary leaf system. The threshold level of ethylene required to cause abscission of intact leaves was between 0.08 and 1 μl/l with abscission generally occurring 12 to 24 hours following ethylene fumigation. The threshold level of ethylene required to reduce the auxin transport capacity in the cotyle-donary petiole paralleled that required for stimulation of abscission. In plants where cotyledons are allowed to senesce naturally there is a decline in auxin transport capacity of petioles and increase in ethylene synthesis of cotyledons. The visible senescence process which precedes abscission requires up to 11 days, and increases in ethylene production rates and internal levels were detected well before abscission. Ethylene production rates for entire cotyledons rose to 2.5 mμ1 g⁻¹ hr⁻¹ and internal levels of 0.7 μl/l were observed. These levels appear to be high enough to cause the observed decline in auxin transport capacity. These findings, along with those of others, indicate that ethylene has several roles in abscission control (e.g., transport modification, enzyme induction, enzyme secretion). The data indicate that ethylene modification of auxin transport participates in both natural abscission and abscission hastened by exogenous ethylene.     

Ethylene Modulates the Developmental Plasticity and the Growth Balance Between Shoot and Root Systems in the In Vitro Grown Epiphytic Orchid Catasetum fimbriatum

The epiphytic habitat is potentially one of the most stressful environments for plants, making the effective developmental control in response to external cues critical for epiphyte survival. Because ethylene mediates several abiotic stresses in plants, here, we have examined the ethylene influence in both shoot and root systems of the epiphytic orchid Catasetum fimbriatum. Under controlled conditions, ethylene production was quantified during an entire growth cycle of C. fimbriatum development in vitro, while treatments modulating either ethylene concentration or perception were carried out over the early growth phase of these plants. After treatments, growth measurements and histological features were studied in both shoot and root tissues. Ethylene production showed a decreasing trend over the period of organ elongation; however, it increased considerably when leaves were shed, and a new axillary bud was initiating. The early exposure of young plants to higher concentrations of ethylene triggered morphogenic responses that included root hair formation instead of velamen, and a combination of inhibitory effects (decreases in both stem enlargement and cellular/organ elongation) and inductive effects (increases in leaf and root formation, bud initiation and cellular thickening) on plant growth, which favored biomass allocation to roots. Conversely, inhibition of ethylene perception over the plant growth phase generally resulted in the opposite morphogenic responses. Our data indicate that periodic variations in ethylene concentration and/or sensitivity seem to modulate several developmental features in shoot and root systems of C. fimbriatum which could have adaptive significance during the growing phase of this epiphytic orchid.     

Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene and methylenecyclopropane on ethylene binding and ethylene action on cut carnations

1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), formerly designated as Sis-X, has been shown to be an effective inhibitor of ethylene responses in carnation flowers in either the light or the dark. The binding appears to be to the receptor and to be permanent. A 6 h treatment at 2.5 nl l^–1 is sufficient to protect against ethylene, and 0.5 nl l^–1 is sufficient if exposure is for 24 h. As carnation flowers age, a little higher concentration appears to be needed. Most of the natural increase in ethylene production during senescence is prevented by treatment with 1-MCP. A closely related compound, methylenecyclopropane shows ethylene activity. A tritium labelled 1-MCP (60 mCi mmol^–1) has been prepared. A higher specific activity is needed for more critical studies.