Onion (Allium cepa) is regarded as a nonclimacteric vegetable. In onions, however, ethylene can suppress sprouting while the ethylene-binding inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) can also suppress sprout growth; yet, it is unknown how ethylene and 1-MCP elicit the same response. In this study, onions were treated with 10 μL L(-1) ethylene or 1 μL L(-1) 1-MCP individually or in combination for...

Methionine can induce more than a 100% increase in ethylene production by apple tissue slices. The increased amount of ethylene derives from carbons 3 and 4 of methionine. Only post-climacteric fruit tissues are stimulated by methionine, and stimulation is optimum after 8 months' storage. Copper chelators such as sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate and cuprizone very markedly inhibit ethylene produc...

The presence of promoter(s) of ethylene biosynthesis in young cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fruits (bolls) was demonstrated by injection of an aqueous extract from bolls into other bolls and measurement of a 3-fold increase in rate of ethylene evolution. Injection of methionine did not affect rate of ethylene production, indicating that the promoter extracted from bolls was not methionine. Inj...

l-Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity is low in the external layers (flavedo) of intact mature grapefruit peel. Flavedo discs evince upon incubation increasing PAL activity and ethylene production. Light has no effect in enhancing PAL activity in discs. Exogenous ethylene stimulates PAL activity in the flavedo of intact mature grapefruits (half maximum stimulation at 15 ppm); such activi...

Ethylene glycol poisoning is an important toxicological problem in medical practice because early diagnosis and treatment can prevent considerable morbidity and mortality. When ingested in the form of antifreeze or other automotive products, ethylene glycol results in central nervous system depression, cardiopulmonary compromise, and renal insufficiency. Metabolism of ethylene glycol to organic...

The phytohormone ethylene is known to mediate a diverse array of signaling processes during abiotic stress in plants. Whereas many reports have demonstrated enhanced ethylene production in metal-exposed plants, the underlying molecular mechanisms are only recently investigated. Increasing evidence supports a role for ethylene in the regulation of plant metal stress responses. Moreover, crosstal...

Root architecture describes root growth over time and space. Prior studies have examined the effects of ethylene and nutrient deficiency using ethylene precursors or inhibitors in combination with nutrient deficiency. To test if ethylene gas alone could alter root architecture in young pea plants, a 30 ppb flux of ethylene was maintained through a column root zone. Although not statistically si...

To further elucidate the regulation of dormancy release, we followed the natural afterripening of Virginia-type peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds from about the 5th to 40th week after harvest. Seeds were kept at low temperature (3 +/- 2 C) until just prior to testing for germination, ethylene production, and internal ethylene concentration. Germination tended to fluctuate but did not increase ...

Alterations in the response of dark-grown seedlings to ethylene (the "triple response") were used to isolate a collection of ethylene-related mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mutants displaying a constitutive response (eto1) were found to produce at least 40 times more ethylene than the wild type. The morphological defects in etiolated eto1-1 seedlings reverted to wild type under conditions in ...

Pectic oligomers induced a rapid, transient increase in ethylene biosynthesis when added to pear cells in suspension culture. The rate of ethylene biosynthesis increased within 30 to 40 minutes after oligomer addition, reached a maximum between 90 and 120 minutes after addition, and then decreased to basal rates of synthesis. Both the rapid increase and decrease in biosynthesis appear to be pre...