Effect of Ethylene on Peroxidase Activity

Ethylene increased the peroxidase activity of nine out of ten varieties of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) root disks tested. The increase which was observed four hours after ethylene treatment was partially overcome by carbon dioxide. The increase was inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide, indicating de novo protein synthesis. Electrophoretic separation on polyacrylamide gels indicated the appearance of two new peroxidase bands. Peroxidase activity in bean petiole explants was localized around the separation layer. Ethylene caused a small increase in peroxidase activity in the petiolar portion of the explant. Phenolic substances had no effect on abscission consistent with their proposed roles as cofactors for auxinoxidase, indicating that auxin-oxidase does not play a role in abscission of Coleus blumei Benth. abscission zone explants.