The Effect of the Ethylene Action Inhibitor 1-Cyclopropenylmethyl Butyl Ether on Early Plant Growth

Increased levels of ethylene in plants are responsible for many deleterious effects such as early senescence, fruit deterioration and inhibition of root elongation. Several cyclopropene derivatives have previously been studied as inhibitors of ethylene action in plants. This study focuses on one such compound, 1-cyclopropenylmethyl butyl ether and its effect on the growth of roots and shoots of canola plants as well as rooting of mung bean seedlings 1-cyclopropenylmethyl butyl ether increased root length in canola plants, but had no significant effect on shoot length. In rooting studies, mung bean seedlings treated with 1-cyclopropenylmethyl butyl ether prior to root excision had fewer numbers of roots than control plants that were not treated with the ethylene action inhibitor. The same rooting study, when repeated in the presence of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), demonstrated an overall increase in the number of roots of inibitor-treated and non-treated plants, however, the inhibitor was still effective in decreasing the number of roots, compared to its non-treated conterpart. Online publication: 7 April 2005