Effect of Ethylene and Culture Environment on Rice Callus Proliferation

Modifications to the gaseous envelope by callus during culturein Petri dishes were shown to reduce growth and promote necrosisof several rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars. Incubatingcallusunder a continuous flow of gas mixtures of known compositionsuggested that the inhibition of growth was caused by the accumulationof ethylene, the depletion of oxygen and, to a lesser extent,the accumulation of carbon dioxide. In order to evaluate theimportance of ethylene accumulation aminoethoxyvinylglycine(AVG), 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC and silvernitrate (AgNO₃), were added to the nutrient medium and ethylenemeasurements performed during callus culture. Ethylene restrictedcallus growth particularly under high (35 °C) as comparedto moderate (25 °C) temperatures and under illuminated ascompared to darkened incubation. Under illuminated incubationat 25 °C AVG (5 mmol m^–3) and AgNO°(50 mmol m^–3)significantly improvedcallus growth (100 and 60% respectively)while ACC (200 mmol m^–3) significantly decreased growth(40%). AVG and AgNO₃ were less effective under dark incubationat 25 °C where ethylene production was lower. Furthermore,callus growth was significantly better in large as comparedto small culture vessels since the ethylene concentration wasdiluted and more oxygen was available for respiration. Bettercontrol of ethylene and increased oxygen availability couldbe a way ofproducing healthy callus for the formation of embryogenictissues of otherwise recalcitrant cultivars of rice (e.g. IndicaIR42) and may be a way of improving manipulation of other cerealspecies. Key words: 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, aminoethoxyvinylglycine, callus, ethylene, Oryza sativa, silver nitrate     

Effect of silver nitrate on sugarcane cell suspension growth, protoplast isolation, ethylene production and shoot regeneration from cell suspension cultures

Silver nitrate (AgNO₃), an inhibitor of the physiological actionof ethylene, reduced cell growth, promoted ethylene production,increased the yield of protoplasts and reduced shoot regenerationfrom sugarcane heterogeneous cell suspension cultures. The increasein the rate of protoplast isolation from cultures treated withAgNO₃ (0 to 59 µM) correlate with an increase in endogenousethylene production by the cells. The addition to the culturemedium of chemicals that either inhibited (aminoethoxyvinylglycine,AVG) or promoted (aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, ACC)ethylene biosynthesis did not alter the number of protoplastsisolated from these cultures. However, protoplasts were isolatedwith AVG in combination with AgNO₃ even though ethylene productionwas inhibited. These results suggested that AgNO₃ may be havinganother more direct effect on protoplast release. One such sitemay be the cell wall or on cell metabolism conditioning cellsto release protoplasts after enzyme treatment. Key words: Sugarcane, cell suspension, protoplast, silver nitrate, ethylene     

Interrelationship between Abscisic Acid and Ethylene in the Control of Senescence Processes in Carnation Flowers

The involvement of abscisic acid (ABA) in senescence of carnationflowers, in the presence of silver ions (which inhibit ethyleneaction), and aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) (an inhibitor ofethylene synthesis) was studied. ABA stimulated senescence asseen by advancement of ethylene surge, and time to the developmentof in-rolling of petal margins. ABA also increased the sensitivityof the flowers to ethylene. Silver ions did not affect the timeor extent of the ethylene surge, but prevented the appearanceof visual senescence symptoms, and lowered the sensitivity toethylene. AVG delayed the ethylene surge and lowered the maximumrate of ethylene production. Also, AVG delayed the developmentof visible senscence. In the presence of silver ions, ABA advanced the ethylene surgebut senescence symptoms did not develop. The effect of ABA onthe parameters measured was prevented by AVG. Thus it is suggestedthat ABA exerts its effect on senescence via ethylene. The possibleinvolvement of an ABA-ethylene sequence as a mediator of waterstress-promoted senescence is discussed.     

The role of ethylene and brassinosteroids in the control of sex expression and flower development in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucurbita pepo</Emphasis>

In this paper we compare the sensitivity of different squash genotypes to ethylene and brassinosteroids by studying the effects of different ethylene and brassinosteroid treatments on the sexual expression and flower development of different C. pepo genotypes: Bolognese (Bog) and Vegetable Spaghetti (Veg), two contrasting lines for ethylene production and sensitivity, as well as Cora, a standard commercial hybrid. Results have demonstrated that ethylene has a much greater effect on sexual expression and flower development in C. pepo than brassinosteroids. Ethephon increases the number of female flowers per plant and reduces the first male phase of development, while treatments with the ethylene inhibitors AVG and STS reduce the number of female flowers per plant and expand the first male phase of development. The differential response observed between genotypes appears to be related to ethylene production and sensitivity. Bog, which produces more ethylene and is more sensitive to this hormone, responded much better to AVG and STS, reducing the number of female flowers per plant, while Veg, which is characterised by lower production of and sensitivity to ethylene, responded better to ethephon by reducing the first male phase of development and increasing the number of female flowers per plant. The differential abortion of female and male flowers in ethephon, AVG and STS treatments, as well as the occurrence of bisexual flowers in the AVG and STS treated plants of the more ethylene sensitive genotypes, demonstrate that ethylene is also involved in the development of female flowers. Female flower buds require a minimal level of ethylene not only to complete their development and maturation without a premature abortion, but also to arrest the development of stamens in the third whorl and to promote the appropriate growth of the carpels. On the contrary, the role of brassinosteroids in the sexual expression of C. pepo was not so evident. The application of brassinazole, an inhibitor of brassinosteroid biosynthesis slightly changes the production of ethylene in the three analysed genotypes, but those changes have little effect on their sexual phenotypes, and they do not alter the development of the unisexual flowers.     

Evidence for an Ethylene Requirement to Reduce Soaking Injury in Bean Seeds and the Beneficial Effect of Heavy Metals

In addition to CO₂, low concentrations, in decreasing orderof effectiveness, of Ag, Ni, Hg, Zn, Co, Pb, and Cu salts tendedto reduce soaking injury in bean seeds. Their effects did notappear to be due to ethylene antagonism. The CO₂ effect wasnot related to it lowering the pH of the soaking solution. Soakinginjury was aggravated by L-a-(2-aminoethoxyvinyl) glycinehydrochloride(AVG) and 2,5-norbornadiene (NBD) and this effect was reversedby ethrel. Soaking in the presence of an ethylene absorbantHg(CIO₄)2 increased injury. The beneficial effect of CO₂ wasdiminished by NBD and this was reversed by ethrel. Ethrel andethylene tended to decrease soaking injury. Injurious treatmentsresulted in less ethylene release by soaked seeds than beneficialtreatments. It is concluded that ethylene does not cause soakinginjury but appears to be partially required for its prevention. Key words: Phaseolus vulgaris, soaking injury, ethylene, ethylene antagonists, heavy metals     

Involvement of ethylene in the disease caused by Botrytis cinerea on rose and carnation flowers and the possibility of control*

Ethylene production by flowers, petals and leaves of rose was correlated with severity of grey mould. However, when the host became completely macerated, ethylene production diminished. Ethylene production by Botrytis cinerea grown on autoclaved flowers which were supplemented with methionine was negligible. Methionine spray, incubation with ethylene, or precooling of flowers at 4°C increased disease incidence considerably. Ethylene also induced susceptibility of carnation flowers to attack by B. cinerea. On the other hand, sprays of silver thiosulphate (STS) aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) and aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) decreased disease severity in rose petals and leaves inoculated with mycelial plugs or conidia. Treatment of cut rose flowers with STS (by dipping) or AOA (by spraying) significantly decreased disease incidence during subsequent incubation at 20 and 10°C. This suggests a treatment for reducing grey mould damage in flowers transported overseas.     

Lack of Control by Early Pistillate Ethylene of the Accelerated Wilting of Petunia hybrida Flowers

Well before pollen tube penetration, ethylene has begun to disseminate from pollinated styles of Petunia hybrida flowers. Previous stigmatic application of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) completely prevented this ethylene synthesis, indicating that the endogenous 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in pollen is not readily converted on the stigma. Compared to other flower parts, the capacity of the ethylene forming enzyme was largest in the stigma. When applied to the stigma, ACC caused ethylene synthesis, but did not accelerate wilting, unless high concentrations (20 nanomols) were used. Upon pollination or stigma wounding, the early ethylene evolved exclusively from the gynoecium, much later followed by the synthesis of corolla ethylene. Employing wideneck Erlenmeyer flasks, the competitive inhibitor of ethylene action, norbornadiene, was applied to entire flowers in situ, with delaying effects on wound-induced wilting. In contrast, norbornadiene treatment of styles alone, using capillaries, could not postpone wilting. Pollination with foreign pollen species did not lead to accelerated corolla wilting, notwithstanding considerable synthesis of ethylene during the first 5 hours. In situ treatment of the stigma with AVG considerably delayed wound- and pollination-induced wilting. Removal of the entire AVG-treated style 6 hours after stigma wounding still allowed for the postponement of the accelerated wilting, even at very low concentrations of AVG. It is concluded that early stylar ethylene does not play a role in the acceleration of wilting but that, much later, corolla ethylene does, induced by a mobile wilting factor from the stigma, which is ACC.     

The Role in Ozone Phytotoxicity of the Evolution of Ethylene upon Induction of 1-Aminocydopropane-1-carboxylic Acid Synthase by Ozone Fumigation in Tomato Plants

The rate of evolution of ethylene by tomato plants was rapidlyincreased by O₃ fumigation. The time course of the increasein 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase activitywas the same as that in the rate of evolution of ethylene, suggestingthat ACC synthase activity might be a rate-limiting step inthe evolution of ethylene that is caused by O₃ fumigation. Therate of the O₃-induced evolution of ethylene was increased bythe application of ACC to tomato plants, suggesting the involvementof ACC oxidase in the O₃-induced evolution of ethylene. Treatmentof plants with tiron inhibited the evolution of ethane, butnot of ethylene. These results indicated that evolution of ethylenein O₃-treated tomato plants might result from enzymatic reactionscatalyzed by both ACC synthase and ACC oxidase, but not fromstimulation by O₃ of the peroxidation of lipids mediated byfree radicals. Pretreatment of leaves with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), aninhibitor of ACC synthase, significantly inhibited the evolutionof ethylene that was induced by O₃ and concomitantly reducedthe extent of O₃-induced visible damage to leaves. Treatmentwith 2,5-norbonadiene, an inhibitor of the action of ethylene,strongly reduced the extent of visible damage caused by O₃,even though it did not suppress the evloution of ethylene. Theseresults indicate that ethylene acts on certain metabolic processesto cause visible damage. (Received September 7, 1995; Accepted December 18, 1995)     

Evidence that brassinosteroid stimulates auxin-induced ethylene synthesis in mung bean hypocotyls between S-adenosylmethionine and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid

Brassinosteroid (BR) stimulation of auxin-induced ethylene production and the particular step at which BR acts to promote such synthesis were studied in mung bean ( Vigna radiata L. Rwilcz cv. Berken) hypocotyl segments. Increasing concentrations of methionine alone and in combination with 3 μ M BR and 10 μ M IAA had a minimal effect on ethylene production. With increasing concentrations of 1-aminocyclopro-pane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), however, ethylene production increased. BR or IAA further enhanced ethylene production with maximum rates occurring when these compounds were added together with ACC. The addition of 10 μ M CoCl₂ in conjunction with BR and/or IAA resulted in 85–97% inhibition of ethylene production. When 20 μ M cycloheximide was used in conjunction with BR and/or IAA there was a complete inhibition of ethylene production. Total inhibition also resulted when 1.0 μ M aminoethoxy-vinylglycine (AVG) was used in combination with BR and/or IAA. AVG alone had no effect on ACC conversion to ethylene.     

Role of Ethylene in Senescence of Petals--Morphological and Taxonomical Relationships

Petal senescence in mature flowers was studied in 93 speciesfrom 22 families. The initial symptom of senescence was eitherwilting or abscission, but in some species the time span betweenwilting and abscission was very short. There was no apparent relationship between corolla form (choripetalousor sympetalous), ovary position (inferior or superior with respectto the corolla) and type of senescence (initial wilting or initialabscission). In monocots no initial abscission was found, whilein dicots the difference between the wilting type and the abscissiontype was generally at the family level. With respect to petalsenescence, sensitivity to exogenous ethylene (C₂H₄) was alsorelated to the family level. Except for a few families (all tested Campanulaceae, Caryophyllaceaeand Malvaceae, and most Orchidaceae), most of the flowers investigatedthat showed initial wilting were not sensitive to exogenousethylene, e.g. all tested Compositae, Iridaceae, and Liliaceae.Most of the flowers showing initial abscission were sensitiveto exogenous ethylene (Geraniaceae, Labiatae, Ranunculaceae,Rosaceae, Scrophulariaceae). Experiments with silver thiosulphate (STS) confirmed the effectsof exogenous ethylene, both in flowers showing initial wiltingand in flowers showing initial abscission. The data indicate,therefore, that ethylene is involved in the natural senescenceof only a minority of the wilting type of flowers and in a majority(if not all) of the abscising type of flowers. Key words: Abscission, ethylene, senescence, silver thiosulphate     

Deferral of senescence and abscission by chemical inhibition of ethylene synthesis and action in bean explants

Three compounds known to inhibit ethylene synthesis and/or action were compared for their ability to delay senescence and abscission of bean explants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv Contender). Aminoethoxyvinyl-glycine (AVG), AgNO₃, and sodium benzoate were infiltrated into the petiole explants. Their effect on abscission was monitored by measuring the force required to break the abscission zone, and their effect on senescence was followed by measuring chlorophyll and soluble protein in the distal (pulvinus) sections. AVG at concentrations between 1 and 100 micromolar inhibited ethylene synthesis by about 80 to 90% compared to the control during sampling periods of 24 and 48 hours after treatment. This compound also delayed the development of abscission and senescence. Treatment with AgNO₃ at concentrations between 1 and 100 micromolar progressively reduced ethylene production, but to a lesser extent than AVG. The effects of AgNO₃ on senescence and abscission were quite similar to those of AVG. Sodium benzoate at 50 micromolar to 5 millimolar did not inhibit ethylene synthesis during the first 24 hours, but appreciably inhibited ethylene synthesis 48 hours after treatment. It also delayed the development of abscission and senescence. The effects of AVG, Ag⁺, and sodium benzoate suggest that ethylene could play a major role in both the senescence induction phase and the separation phase in bean explants.     

活性氧在UV-B诱导的玉米幼苗叶片乙烯产生中的作用

 研究了活性氧在UV-B(280～320 nm)诱导的玉米(Zea mays)幼苗叶片乙烯合成中的作用。结果表明,UV-B促进了玉米幼苗活性氧和乙烯的产生;乙 烯合成抑制剂氨氧乙烯基甘氨酸 (AVG)和氨氧乙酸(AOA)能明显减弱UV-B对玉米幼苗乙烯产生的诱导作用,但对活性氧(ROS)的 产生没有明显影 响;ROS的清除剂不但能抑制UV-B诱导的 ROS的产生,而且还可以抑制UV_B诱导的乙烯的产生,但这种抑制作用可以被外源O₂^.-的供体所逆转。这 说明,乙烯的积累不能作为UV-B胁迫下ROS的诱导的因素,相反,ROS的积累则导致了乙烯的积累;因此,ROS可能参与了UV-B胁迫诱导的乙烯的产生 。质膜NADPH氧化酶的抑制剂二苯碘鎓(DPI)和H₂O₂的特异性清除剂过氧化氢酶（CAT）对UV-B胁迫诱导的乙烯积累 几乎没有影响, 这说明H₂O₂ 可能与UV-B诱导的玉米幼苗叶片乙烯的产生无关, 在UV-B诱导的玉米幼苗叶片乙烯的生物合成过程中O₂^.-起着很重要的作用,相关的O₂^.-不是由 NADPH氧化酶催化产生的。     

The involvement of ethylene in in vitro maturation of mid-binucleate pollen of Nicotiana tabacum

The role of ethylene during in vitro maturation of Nicotianatabacum pollen from the mld-binucleate (MB) stage was analysedby the addition of aminooxyacetic acid (AOA), aminoethoxyvinylglycine(AVG), CoCl₂ and AgNO₃ to the maturation medium (AMGLu). Anincrease in ethylene production was obtained in both isolatedpollen and pollen surrounded by sporophytic tissue during insitu maturation. in vitro maturation of pollen was inhibitedby AOA and AVG; ACC and ethrel were able to overcome this inhibitoryeffect. Cyclohexylamine (CHA) reverted the inhibition provokedby both Ag⁺ and Co²⁺ The results reported in this paper indicatethat ethylene is one of the factors implicated in in vitro maturationof MB pollen of Nicotiana tabacum. Key words: Nicotiana tabacum, maturation, germination, pollen, ethylene     

De novo shoot morphogenesis and plant growth of mustard (Brassica juncea) in vitro in relation to ethylene

Role of ethylene in de novo shoot morphogenesis from explants and plant growth of mustard ( Brassica juncea cv. India Mustard) in vitro was investigated, by culturing explants or plants in the presence of the ethylene inhibitors aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and AgNO₃. The presence of 20 μ M AgNO₃ or 5 μ M AVG in culture medium containing 5 μ M naphthaleneacetic acid and 10 μ M benzyladenine were equally effective in promoting shoot regeneration from leaf disc and petiole explants. However, AgNO₃ greatly enhanced ethylene production which reached a maximum after 14 days, whereas ethylene levels in the presence of AVG remained low during 3 weeks of culture. The promotive effect of AVG on shoot regeneration was overcome by exogenous application of 25 μ M 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (CEPA), but AgNO_3-induced regeneration was less affected by CEPA. For whole plant culture, AVG did not affect plant growth, although it decreased ethylene production by 80% and both endogenous levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase and ACC by 70–80%. In contrast, AgNO₃ stimulated all 3 parameters of ethylene synthesis. Both AgNO₃ and CEPA were inhibitory to plant growth, with more severe inhibition occuring in AgNO₃. Leaf discs derived from plants grown with AVG or AgNO₃ were highly regenerative on shoot regeneration medium without ethylene inhibitor, but the presence of AgNO₃ in the medium was inhibitory to regeneration of those derived from plants grown with AgNO₃.     

Effects of Seed Treatments on the Emergence of Oil Seed Rape Seedlings from Compacted Soil

Imbibition of seeds of oil seed rape (Brassica napus cv Jetneuf)in 10^–3 M aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) or 10^–2silver thiosulphate (Ag⁺) had no effect on germination nor onthe emergence of seedlings from uncompacted or lightly compressedsoil, but significantly reduced emergence from moderately compressedsoil of 68.4 or 143.3 N cm^–2 impedance. Exertion of force by emerging control seedlings against a staticcantilever bar fitted with strain gauges reached a maximum (F_max)of 6 g over 10 h. Higher axial forces were achieved when theseedlings were emerging from compressed soil, without any changein the time required to reach F_max, so that the build-up offorce was considerably (1.8 fold) faster than in uncompressedsoil. This adaptive response to soil impedance was modified by theseed pretreatments employed. Seedlings from AVG or Ag⁺pretreatedseeds produced lower axial forces than controls, and neitherF_max nor the rate at which force developed showed any responseto soil compression. After pretreatment in 10^–3 ethephon or 10^–4 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) the seedlings achieved similar F_max to controlseedlings, but responded more rapidly to soil compression sothat the rate of build up of emergence force was 2.3 fold (NAA)or 2.8 fold (ethephon) faster in compressed than in uncompressedsoil. The results suggest that the exertion of force by a seedlingagainst a barrier involves a dynamic response to impedance onthe part of the seedling. This response can be either enhancedor suppressed by substances which affect ethylene productionor ethylene action. Such compounds may have promise for modifyingseedling emergence from impeding soils. Brassica napus, oil seed rape, seedling emergence, soil compaction, ethylene, Ethrel, silver, aminoethoxyvinylglycine, naphthalene acetic acid     

Effects of ethylene biosynthesis in carrot root slices on 6-methoxymellein accumulation and resistance to Botrytis cinerea

The role of ethylene biosynthesis in the resistance response of carrot ( Daucus carota L., cv. Chantenay red-cored) slices to infection by Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Pers. was investigated using aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and inhibitor of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase (EC 4.4.1.-), and norbornadiene, an inhibitor of ethylene binding. Carrot slices became susceptible to a normally non-invasive level (10⁵ ml^-1) of spores of B. cinerea after treatment with AVG. ACC partially reversed the susceptibility induced by AVG. The ability of a crude pectic enzyme preparation from B. cinerea to induce resistance to a normally invasive level of B. cinerea spores (10⁶ ml^-1) was prevented by AVG. Accumulation of the carrot phyto-alexin 6-methoxymellein (6-MM) was prevented by norbornadiene, but it had no effect on the resistance response. An event associated with ethylene biosynthesis other than 6-MM accumulation appears to be responsible for the resistance of carrot slices to infection by B. cinerea.     

Role of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid in the control of female flowering in Cucurbita pepo

Cucurbita pepo L. cv. Trailing Marrow is monoecious, bearing separate male and female flowers and the first functional flowers are usually male. Treatment with 300 ppm ethephon delayed and greatly reduced male flower production and also increased female flower numbers. When plants were sprayed with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) no female flowers were produced but male flower production was unaffected. Even when ethephon was applied to AVG-treated plants there was still complete inhibition of female flower production. Similarly, AVG-treated plants subsequently exposed to 4000 ppm ethylene for two days never produced female flowers. AVG inhibits the penultimate stage in ethylene biosynthesis i.e. immediately before 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). Although spraying AVG-treated plants with ACC did not reverse the inhibition, application of ACC via a cut petiole for a 72 h period following AVG application did cause female flowers to form. The evidence indicates that ACC and not ethylene is the factor controlling female flower production in C. pepo .     

Silver nitrate and aminoethoxyvinylglycine promote in vitro adventitious shoot regeneration of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

A protocol is presented for direct adventitous shoot organogenesis and complete plant regeneration from seedling-derived explants of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), a tropical fruit tree. Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium enriched with 8.9 mumol/L benzyladenine (BA), 5.4 mumol/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 10% coconut water (CW) induced adventitious shoot bud differentiation in axenic seedling-derived cotyledons as well as hypocotyl segments. The cotyledons were more responsive than the hypocotyls. Addition of ethylene inhibitors such as AgNO3 (10-40 mumol/L) and aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) (5-15 mumol/L) to the medium markedly enhanced regeneration frequency as well as number of shoots obtained per explant. The promotive effect of AVG and AgNO3 on shoot organogenesis was observed only in cotyledon explants. The regeneration medium containing AgNO3 (20 mumol/L) or AVG (10 mumol/L) induced adventitious shoot buds from 57% or 53% of the cotyledon explants respectively. These shoot buds developed into shoots upon transfer to a regeneration medium without AgNO3 and AVG. The promotive effect of AVG on shoot regeneration was reversed by exogenous application of 20 mumol/L 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (CEPA), an ethylene releasing compound. On the other hand, shoot regeneration stimulated by AgNO3 was relatively less affected by CEPA. Regenerated shoots were rooted in half-strength MS medium (1/2 MS) containing 0.54 mumol/L NAA. The well rooted plantlets were acclimatized and eventually established in soil.     

Pollination and stigma wounding: same response, different signal?

In Petunia hybrida flowers, both pollination and stigma woundinginduced a transient Increase in ethylene production and hastenedcorolla senescence. Ethylene production by different flowerparts was measured in situ using laser photoacoustic (LPA) spectroscopy.In pollinated flowers, ethylene was exclusively produced bythe stigma/style region whereas wounding of the stigma Inducedethylene production both by the stigma/style region and by theremaining flower parts. In aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG)-treatedflowers, subsequent treatment of the unwounded stigma with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylicacid (ACC) induced ethylene production exclusively by the stigma/styleregion whereas treatment of a previously wounded stigma withACC induced a simultaneous increase in ethylene production bythe stigma/style region and the remaining flower parts. Theseresults suggest that following stigma wounding, either ACC orethylene is involved in inter-organ communication. Followingpollination, the signal is apparently not directly related toethylene. In vivo ACC oxidase activity of most flower parts, includingthe gynoecium, was higher in light than in dark. Light or darkdid not influence the relative contributions of stigma/styleand remaining flower parts to the total pollination, woundingor ACC-induced ethylene production, indicating that ACC is nottranslocated. Both in excised styles and intact flowers, radiolabelledACC and its analogue -aminoisobutyric acid (AIB), applied eitherto an intact or wounded stigma, were largely immobile confirmingthat ACC is not likely to play a role in inter-organ signalling. The results collectively suggest that following stigma wounding,translocation of ethylene may be the signal responsible forinitiation of corolla senescence; following pollination thesignal is not directly related to ethylene. Key words: 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), ethylene, flower senescence, Petunia hybrida, pollination, stigma wounding     

Biosynthesis of stress ethylene in soybean seedlings: Similarities to endogenous ethylene biosynthesis

The similarity of stress ethylene biosynthesis in whole plants to endogenous ethylene biosynthesis was investigated using two inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis, aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and cobalt chloride (Co²⁺); and the intermediates, methionine, S -adenosylmethionine (SAM), and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), of basal ethylene biosynthesis. Stress ethylene production induced by ozone, cadmium, or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was inhibited in hydroponically-grown soybean seedlings in a concentration-dependent manner by both AVG and CO²⁺. The ethylene intermediates evoked responses in intact seedlings similar to that described for endogenous ethylene production in isolated vegetative tissue. The addition of SAM to the hydroponic system relieved AVG inhibition of stress ethylene production. Feeding ACC to the seedlings resulted in increased ethylene production independent of stress application or prior AVG inhibition. Cobalt inhibition of stress ethylene production was relieved by increasing concentrations of ACC. A short lag period of 12–18 min was observed in stress ethylene production following a 30-min ozone exposure. Addition of cycloheximide partially inhibited ozone-induced ethylene production.
These results suggest a common pathway in whole plants for stress ethylene production and endogenous ethylene biosynthesis.