Ethylene-induced Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Activity in Carrot Roots

Ethylene enhanced the activity of phenylalanine ammonialyase in carrot (Daucus carota L., var. “Nauty”) root tissue. Slight increase in enzyme activity was exhibited by root discs incubated in ethylene-free air. It was probably due to the ethylene formed within the sliced tissue. Addition of ethylene to the air stream increased phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and the total protein content of the discs until maximum activity was reached after 36 to 48 hours of incubation. The continuous presence of ethylene was required to maintain high level of activity. Ethylene, at a concentration of 10 microliter per liter induced higher activity than at lower or higher concentrations. CO₂ partially inhibited the ethylene-induced activity. Cycloheximide or actinomycin D effectively inhibited the ethylene-induced activity in discs that had not previously been exposed to ethylene. The results appear to support the hypothesis that the mode of action of ethylene may involve both de novo synthesis of the enzyme protein and protection or regulation of activity of the induced enzyme.     

Ethylene as an endogenous inhibitor of root regeneration in tomato leaf discs cultured in vitro

We examined ethylene effects on root regeneration in tomato leaf discs cultured in vitro. Applied ethylene or Ethephon did not stimulate rooting in the leaf discs. In the presence of indoleacetic acid. 5 × 10^-6M, these substances significantly inhibited root formation. Ethylene production (nl C₂H₄· (24 h)^-1. flask^-1) was positively correlated with increased IAA concentrations at various times during the culture period and, as a consequence, with the rooting response after 168 h. However, separate testing of equimolar concentrations of seven different auxins and auxin-like compounds showed no positive correlation between the rate of ethylene production and subsequent rooting response. Aeration of gas-tight flasks containing leaf discs and absorption of ethylene evolved from the discs by mercuric perchlorate in gas-tight flasks or pre-treatment of leaf discs with AgNO₃ significantly enhanced IAA induced root regeneration. Thus, these studies indicate that ethylene is not a rooting hormone per se. Furthermore, ethylene (whether applied externally or synthesized by the tissue) does not appear to account for the ability of auxin to stimulate rooting.     

The effect of ammonium ions on uptake of glutamine and other amino compounds by cultured cells of rapeseed

Rooting responses and ethylene production by hypocotyl cuttings from etiolated mung-bean seedlings treated with the auxins -naphthaleneacetic acid, -(indole-3)-n-butyric acid (IBA) and 2,4,5-trichloro-phenoxypropionic acid were determined. There was no relationship between the abilities of the auxins to induce root formation and their capacities for inducing ethylene production. Studies with mixtures of 3-indoleacetic acid, a poor stimulator of rooting but an effective inducer of ethylene production, and IBA, an effective rooting stimulator but a poor inducer of ethylene production, exposure of cuttings to ethylene or (2-chloroethyl) phosphonic acid (Ethephon), hypobaric storage (150 mb) of treated cuttings, and exposure of auxin-treated cuttings to 7% CO₂ also indicated that ethylene is not directly involved in initiation of adventitious roots in this plant material.Abbreviations IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IBA -(indole-3)-n-butyric acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - 2,4,5-TP 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxypropionic acid     

Ethylene inhibitors enhance in vitro root formation on faba bean shoots regenerated on medium containing thidiazuron

The possible involvement of ethylene in in vitrorooting of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) shootsregenerated on medium containing thidiazuron wasinvestigated. The effects of the ethylene precursor1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and threeethylene inhibitors, silver nitrate (AgNO₃),acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) and cobalt chloride(CoCl₂) on root formation were tested in vitrousing TDZ-induced shoots of faba bean accession 760.ACC inhibited root formation. In contrast, ethyleneinhibitors promoted root formation, AgNO₃ at theappropriate concentrations enhanced root emergence andincreased root number per shoot, root growth rate, androot length. Both CoCl₂ and ASA at theappropriate concentrations increased rootingefficiency. These promotive effects may result from areduction in ethylene concentration or inhibition ofethylene action. The results offer a new approach toimprove the rooting efficiency of TDZ-induced shootsof faba bean and possibly of other plant species.     

Effect of Ethylene on Sucrose Uptake in Root Discs of Sugar Beet

Exogenously-added ethylene stimulated active sucrose uptakein root discs of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in a log dose-linearresponse manner. The ethylene precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylicacid (ACC) stimulated both endogenous ethylene production andsucrose uptake. Conversely, an inhibitor of ACC synthesis, aminoethoxyvinylglycine(AVG) inhibited both endogenous ethylene production and sucroseuptake. Exogenously-added ethylene can overcome the AVG effecton sucrose uptake. Root tissue from freshly-harvested sugarbeet plants contain gas-phase ethylene levels slightly belowthat required to stimulate active sucrose uptake. No differenceswere found in gas-phase ethylene levels in the root tissue ofsugar beet cultivars having different concentrations of sucrose.The root tissue has an inherent capacity to synthesize ACC andethylene at high rates. Like ethylene, propylene can stimulate active sucrose uptakein beet root discs, but it is not detected in the gas phaseof the tissue. Acetylene, propane, and ethane had no effecton sucrose uptake. Exogenously-added IAA and ABA each make ethylenesensitivetissue insensitive to ethylene stimulation of sucrose uptake.Other plant hormones have no apparent effect on the ethyleneresponse. The role that ethylene may play on sucrose uptakein root tissue of sugar beet is discussed. (Received February 12, 1986; Accepted April 22, 1986)     

The influence of oxygen deficiency on ethylene synthesis, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid levels and aerenchyma formation in roots of Zea mays

The relationship between ethylene production, 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC) concentration and aerenchyma formation (ethylene-promoted cavitation of the cortex) was studied using nodal roots of maize (Zea mays L. cv. LG11) subjected to various O₂ treatments. Ethylene evolution was 7–8 fold faster in roots grown at 3 kPa O₂ than in those from aerated solution (21 kPa O₂), and transferring roots from aerated solution to 3 kPa O₂ enhanced ethylene synthesis within less than 2 h. Ethylene production and ACC accumulation were closely correlated in different zones of hypoxic roots, regardless of whether O₂ was furnished to the roots through aerenchyma or external solution. Both ethylene production and ACC concentrations (fresh weight basis) were more than 10-fold greater in the distal 0–10 mm than in the fully expanded zone of roots at 3 kPa O₂. Aerenchyma formation occurred in the apical 20 mm of these roots. Roots transferred from air to anoxia accumulated less than 0. 1 nmol ACC (mg protein)^-1 for the first 1.75 h; no ethylene was produced in this time. The subsequent rise in ACC levels shows that ACC can reach high concentrations even in the absence of O₂, presumably due to a de-repression of ACC synthase. The hypothesis was therefore tested that anoxia in the apical region of the root caused enhanced synthesis of ACC, which was transported to more mature regions (10–20 mm behind the apex), where ethylene could be produced and aerenchyma formation stimulated. Surprisingly, exposure of intact root tips to anoxia inhibited aerenchyma formation in the mature root axis. High osmotic pressures around the growing region or excision of apices had the same effect, demonstrating that a growing apex is required for high rates of aerenchyma formation in the adjacent tissue.     

Endogenous Auxin is Required but Supraoptimal for Rapid Growth of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Seminal Roots, and Auxin Inhibition of Rice Seminal Root Growth is Not Caused by Ethylene

The dual effects of auxin and ethylene on rice seminal root growth were investigated in this study. Low concentrations of exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) had no effect on rice seminal root growth, whereas higher concentrations (≥0.003 μM) were inhibitory. In contrast, low concentrations of the auxin action inhibitor p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid (PCIB), ranging from 0.5 to 50 μM, promoted rice seminal root growth, whereas high concentrations of PCIB (≥500 μM) and the polar auxin transport inhibitor 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) inhibited rice seminal root growth. These results suggest that endogenous auxin is required but supraoptimal for rapid growth of rice seminal roots. In addition, although rice seminal root growth was inhibited by the exogenous ethylene-releasing compound ethephon or the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) as well as exogenous IAA, the 50% inhibition of growth (I₅₀) caused by ethephon or ACC was weakened by certain concentrations of the ethylene action inhibitor Ag⁺ (0.016-0.4 μM). However, the I₅₀ caused by exogenous IAA was strengthened by Ag⁺ or the ethylene biosynthetic inhibitor aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and weakened by certain concentrations of PCIB (0.5-50 μM). Together, the inhibitory mechanisms of auxin and ethylene on rice seminal root growth should be different, and auxin inhibition of rice seminal root growth should not be caused by ethylene. Furthermore, our results indicated that a certain threshold level of ethylene was required to maintain rice seminal root growth, and that ethylene within the threshold may antagonize auxin inhibition of rice seminal root growth.     

Biosynthesis of ethylene in higher plants: the metabolic site of inhibition by phosphate*

Abstract. Phosphate inhibited endogenous as well as 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC)-stimulated ethylene synthesis in slices of tomato fruit, segments of carrot root and pea hypocotyls. ACC concentrations of up to 10 mol m^?3 did not overcome this inhibition. Phosphate inhibited the conversion of ¹⁴C ACC to ethylene in tomato fruit and vegetative tissue. Enzymatic conversion of ACC to ethylene by pea seedling homogenate was also inhibited by phosphate with a linear concentration dependency. The formation of ACC from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) by extracts of pink tomatd fruit was slightly, but not significantly, affected by phosphate. However, the SAM to ACC conversion was greater when extracts from tomato fruit were made in phosphate rather than in HEPES-KOH buffer. Non-enzymatic ethylene synthesis from ACC in a model system was stimulated by phosphate. We suggest that phosphate is an inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis in higher plants and that one site of its control is the conversion of ACC to ethylene.     

Ethylene inhibitors enhance in vitro root formation from apple shoot cultures

Effects of the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and three ethylene inhibitors, AgNO₃, aminoethoxyvinyglycine (AVG) and CoCl₂, on root formation were tested in vitro using shoot cultures of the apple (Malus×domestica Borkh.) cultivar Royal Gala. ACC inhibited root formation by delaying root emergence and increasing callus formation at the bases of shoots. In contrast, ethylene inhibitors promoted root formation. Both AgNO₃ and AVG at the appropriate concentrations increased the percentage of shoots producing roots and reduced callus formation at the base of these shoots. AgNO₃ stimulated root emergence and enhanced root growth, while AVG increased the number of roots per shoot. CoCl₂ slightly increased root number and rooting efficiency. These promotive effects may result from a reduction in ethylene concentration or inhibition of ethylene action. The results found in this study may be used to improve the rooting efficiency of other apple cultivars and rootstocks, and possibly of other plant species. Received: 2 March 1997 / Revision received: 1 July 1997 / Accepted: 18 July 1997     

Interrelationship between ethylene and growth regulators in the senescence of lettuce leaf discs

The interrelationship between ethylene and growth regulators in the senescence of romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) leaves was studied. Gibberellic acid (GA₃), kinetin, and 3-indoleacetic acid (IAA) retarded chlorophyll loss from leaf discs which were floated on hormone solutions. Abscisic acid (ABA) and ethephon enhanced chlorophyll loss and antagonized the senescence-retarding effect of GA₃ and kinetin. A high concentration of IAA (10^–4 M) caused accelerated chlorophyll loss, whereas a similar concentration of kinetin neither retarded nor promoted chlorophyll loss. The ineffectiveness of IAA and kinetin at their supraoptimal concentrations in retarding leaf senescence was related to increased production of ethylene induced in the treated leaf discs. GA₃ was the most effective in retarding chlorophyll loss and did not stimulate ethylene production at all. The senescence-enhancing effect of ABA was not mediated by ethylene. However, the moderately increased production of ethylene, induced by relatively high concentrations of ABA, could act synergistically with the latter to accelerate chlorophyll loss. It is proposed that the effectiveness of exogenously applied hormones, both in enhancing and retarding senescence, is greatly affected by the endogenous ethylene concentration of the treated plant tissue.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel, No. 2571-E, 1988 series.     

Regeneration in Streptocarpus Leaf Discs and its Regulation by Temperature and Growth Substances

The formation of adventitious buds and roots in leaf discs of Streptocarpus x bybridus‘Constant Nymph’ were both stimulated by relatively low temperatures (12 and 18°C) applied to isolated discs or to the growing plants before leaf harvest. Auxins also promoted both bud and root formation, the optimum concentration for rooting always being one to two orders of magnitude higher than the optimum for budding. Cytokinins had only a small stimulatory effect on bud formation. At higher concentrations it was inhibitory and even counteracted the stimulatory effect of auxin on bud formation. As usual, root formation was inhibited by cytokinin. GA₃ inhibited both bud and root formation but the inhibition was reversible by auxin. In presence of optimum auxin levels abscisic acid enhanced bud formation. It had little effect on root formation except for an inhibition at high concentrations. The effects of exogenous auxin and cytokinin suggest that Streptocarpus leaves have a high and non-limiting level of endogenous cytokinin with auxin as the limiting factor for both root and bud formation. This would also explain the exceptionally high regeneration ability of this plant.     

Increased disease resistance and enzyme activity induced by ethylene and ethylene production of black rot infected sweet potato tissue

Exposure of root tissue from a susceptible variety of sweet potato to low concentrations of ethylene induced a resistance to infection by Ceratocystis fimbriata and an increase in the activity of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase in the tissue. Susceptible tissue that was inoculated with a pathogenic strain of C. fimbriata or a nonpathogenic strain that can induce resistance liberated more ethylene into closed chambers than tissue inoculated with strains that did not induce resistance. It is suggested that ethylene may be a stimulus that diffuses from infected areas into adjoining tissue to initiate metabolic changes which may lead to disease resistance. Polyphenol oxidase but not peroxidase activity was increased in slices of potato tubers and parsnip roots treated with ethylene. The activity of these enzymes in root tissue of carrot, radish or turnip was not altered by ethylene treatment.     

Production of ethylene by injured sweet potato root tissue

Ethylene production by sweet potato root tissue was examinedwith special emphasis on tissue injury. The root tissue producedethylene in response to cut injury. Increasing the cut surfacearea increased ethylene production, and the amount was proportionalto logarithm of the surface area. Tissue discs washed with waterbefore incubation produced less ethylene than unwashed discs. When the tissue was treated with chemicals that might destroythe cells, ethylene production remarkably increased. Monoiodoacetamide,trichloroacetic acid and sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate wereparticularly effective in inducing ethylene production. Here,again, ethylene production was related to the degree of injury.Treatment of the tissue with increasing concentrations of thesechemicals resulted in increasing ethylene production, but concentrationsover a certain limit rather decreased the ethylene production.This may be due to the rapid destruction of the whole tissueused before ethylene production commenced. For thylene production,the presence of injured but still living cells was necessary. Relationship of the injury-induced ethylene production to metabolicactivation is discussed. ¹Part 67 of the Phytopathological Chemistry of Sweet Potatowith Black Rot and Injury. ²Fulbright grantee of 1967. Present address: Department of Biochemistry,University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A.     

Effect of plant growth regulators on morphogenesis and forskolin production in Plectranthus barbatus Andrews

Plectranthus barbatus (syn. Coleus forskohlii) is the only known source of forskolin, a compound with a wide range of pharmacological activities. Here, an efficient protocol for adventitious root regeneration from leaf explants of P. barbatus was developed. Different concentrations of plant growth regulators individually and in combination were used to induce roots in vitro. Morphogenic responses and forskolin production varied depending on the concentrations of plant growth regulators added to the medium. Lower concentrations of auxins trigger callus proliferation while higher concentrations induced adventitious root regeneration. Of all the auxins, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), 2 (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy) propionic acid (2,4,5-TP), and 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) induced callus, whereas α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3-acetic acid, and indole-3-butyric acid induced rhizogenesis. Use of picloram at 1.0 and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ resulted in the formation of friable callus, and when combined with 0.5 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzylamino purine (BA), rhizogenic callus was produced. The cytokinins BA and kinetin produced a mixed response of multiple shoot regeneration, callus proliferation, and rhizogenesis. The maximum forskolin content of 1,178 mg kg⁻¹ dry weight was found in root cultures initiated on Gamborg’s B₅ medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l⁻¹ NAA. The biosynthesis of forskolin was differentiation dependent, and rhizogenic cultures exhibited the maximum biosynthetic potential for forskolin.     

Application of the disk method: responses to growth regulators

The paper disk method of screening several plant growth regulators was evaluated. Leaf explants ofVigna unguiculata (L) Walp. were placed on solidified Murashige and Skoog's minimal organics medium containing 0.5 mg/l nicotinic acid. Hormones were tested, singly and in combinations, on paper disks in large Petri plates (150×20 mm). Hormones tested were 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), 2,4,5-T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid), IAA (indole-3-acetic acid), IBA (indole-3-butyric acid), picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid), dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid), BA (6-benzyladenine), 2iP (2-isopentenyl adenine), and kinetin [6-(furfurylamino)-purine]. Root formation was stimulated by IAA and IBA; dicamba, picloram, 2,4-D, and 2,4,5-T stimulated callus formation. All cytokinins tested suppressed root formation. Dicamba in combination with either 2iP or kinetin induced the greatest callus formation. Root formation was optimal with kinetin and either IAA or IBA. The disk method provided a rapid, nonquantitative evaluation of callus and root formation from leaf disks.     

生长素和乙烯互作调控硝酸铵诱导的根毛分叉

以野生型拟南芥(WT)及其生长素和乙烯不敏感型突变体(aux1-7、axr1-3、etr1-1和etr1-3)为实验材料,采用固体培养法研究了高浓度硝酸铵对根毛发育的影响,以揭示其调控根毛发育的机制。结果表明:(1)随着外源硝酸铵浓度的逐渐增加,拟南芥根毛伸长受阻,产生大量的分叉根毛。(2)高浓度硝酸铵条件下,外源活性氧或活性氧产生抑制剂二苯基氯化碘(DPI)的添加能抑制高浓度硝酸铵诱导的分叉根毛产生。(3)高浓度硝酸铵条件下,外源生长素或乙烯合成前体物质1-氨基-环丙烷-1-羧酸(ACC)处理能恢复根毛的正常生长,解除高浓度硝酸铵诱导根毛分叉现象。(4)高浓度硝酸铵条件下,外源生长素处理乙烯不敏感型突变体或ACC处理生长素不敏感型突变体均能抑制突变体分叉根毛的形成。研究表明,活性氧、生长素和乙烯都参与了高浓度硝酸铵对根毛发育的过程调控;在硝酸铵诱导的根毛分叉中生长素和乙烯存在相互作用,在缺乏生长素信号通路时,乙烯能够发挥补充作用抑制分叉根毛的产生;在缺乏乙烯信号通路时,生长素也可以弥补缺失乙烯的作用抑制根毛的分叉,但是需要更高浓度的生长素才能充分抑制分叉根毛的产生。     

Effect of Ethrel and Ceratocystis fimbriata on the Synthesis of Fatty Acids and 6-Methoxy Mellein in Carrot Root

The rate of incorporation of ¹⁴C from acetate-1-¹⁴C into fatty acids by carrot root discs, 18 hours after inoculation with Ceratocystis fimbriata, was 9-fold greater than that in freshly cut discs. The rate in discs treated with water or Ethrel was 3-fold greater. The rate of incorporation of ¹⁴C from glucose-U-¹³C into fatty acids was 3-fold greater 18 hours after any of the above treatments. The rate of ¹⁴C incorporation from malonate-2-¹⁴C into fatty acids 24 hours after inoculation with C. fimbriata or treatment with water was 25 and 60%, respectively, of that in freshly cut discs. Linoleic acid was the principal fatty acid in carrot root, but incorporation of ¹⁴C from acetate-1-¹⁴C into the acid was low until 18 hours after inoculation with C. fimbriata or treatment with Ethrel. Turnover rates of the fatty acids appeared low and were similar for all treatments.     

Headspace ethylene accumulation on Stizolobium hassjoo hairy root culture producing L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine

The addition of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ethylene precursor), or 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethephon, an ethylene-releasing compound) decreased root dry weight and l-DOPA (l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) accumulation in hairy root cultures of Stizolobium hassjoo. The inhibition caused by ethephon-mediated ethylene release was alleviated by 0.5 mg CoCl₂ l^–1 as an inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis. The action of ethylene was inhibited by 1.5 mg AgNO₃ l^–1. Ethylene thus lowers hairy root formation and l-DOPA production; CoCl₂ decreases ethylene formation leading to a considerably improved root dry weight and l-DOPA production.     

Pectolytic Clostridium spp. in soils and rhizospheres of carrot and other arable crops in east Scotland

Carrot root tissue discs rotted rapidly in anaerobic conditions after inoculation with soil from 40 different carrot fields and from ten fields of a mixed arable farm. Significant differences occurred in rotting potential between the soils and pectolytic Clostridium spp. were isolated from the rotted discs. Direct counts of pectolytic clostridia on selective pectate plates detected populations of 44–23.5 × 10³ viable propagules/g dry soil in field soils. Significant increases in viable propagules were found in the rhizosphere soils of most carrot crops and in a range of other arable crops examined. The ratios of populations in the rhizospheres and surrounding soils varied between 1.8 and 8.2. Irrigating to excess and inter-row cultivation of carrot crops did not consistently affect populations in soil or on roots.     

The role of auxin in hairy root induction

Summary We have investigated the relative role of auxin and of Agrobacterium rhizogenes T-DNA in the induction of hairy roots. By infecting carrot discs with suitably constructed bacterial strains containing different T-DNA complements, we have shown that both auxin and the presence of T-DNA in the carrot cells are required for root growth on the discs. Auxin added alone or in combination with cytokinin is not sufficient to induce rooting on uninfected discs. Also cells transformed by T-DNA containing only auxin synthetic genes very rarely differentiate into roots. On the other hand auxin is necessary for hairy root induction since A. rhizogenes devoid of T-DNA-borne auxin genes is not capable of eliciting symptoms in the absence of hormone. Auxin is not required for either T-DNA transfer or T-DNA expression in the transformed host. Cells infected in the absence of auxin, which do not respond by rooting, do contain T-DNA whose expression is shown by the synthesis of hairy root opines; subsequent addition of auxin to these quiescent transformed cells results in root development. A model for hairy root induction where the action of T-DNA is envisaged as conferring auxin responsiveness to the transformed cells is discussed.