Ethylene: Modification of peroxidase activity and isozyme complement in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Ethylene increased the peroxidase activity in extracts fromcotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum L.) pre-treated with the gas.The response was greatest in young leaves and plant fractionscontaining petioles and abscission zones. Ethylene also increasedthe peroxidase activity of extracts of cotton cotyledonary nodeexplants pre-treated with the gas. These data parallel someearlier reports on IAA-oxidase activity of ethylene-treatedplants. Disc gel electrophoresis of crude extracts of ethylene-treatedcotton seedlings revealed both quantitative and qualitativechanges in peroxidase isozymes from tissues treated with thegas. The possible functional role of peroxidase increased byethylene treatment is discussed in relation to leaf abscission. ¹ Present address: Department of Agronomy, New Mexico StateUniversity, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001, U.S.A. (Received March 8, 1972; )