Abstract
The function of the coronet region of the cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Cherry) as the main emission channel for ethylene was investigated. Ethylene was measured employing two laser-based detection systems, the photothermal deflection instrument and the photoacoustic detection setup. It is possible to detect minimum ethylene concentrations of 1 nL L-1 locally and rapidly with the first instrument and concentrations of 6 pL L-1 in a continuous flow system with the second setup. The continuous flow system makes it possible to change the air composition and to monitor its influence on the ethylene production of the tomato. The response times of the two instruments are 30 s and 4 min, respectively. The local character of the measurements makes it possible to determine the emission sites of the gaseous plant hormone ethylene and their relative importance. Transient anoxic conditions stop production of ethylene; return to aerobic conditions shows the evolution of the accumulated ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid and its renewed production on the measured ethylene emission, with a time resolution of several minutes. Temporarily sealing the main emission channel yields results comparable to anoxia.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.2 MB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Cameron A. C., Yang S. F. A simple method for the determination of resistance to gas diffusion in plant organs. Plant Physiol. 1982 Jul;70(1):21–23. doi: 10.1104/pp.70.1.21. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Theologis A. One rotten apple spoils the whole bushel: the role of ethylene in fruit ripening. Cell. 1992 Jul 24;70(2):181–184. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(92)90093-r. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Woltering E. J., Harren F., Boerrigter H. A. Use of a laser-driven photoacoustic detection system for measurement of ethylene production in cymbidium flowers. Plant Physiol. 1988 Oct;88(2):506–510. doi: 10.1104/pp.88.2.506. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]