Abstract
The effects of various treatments on the recently reported system in pea (Pisum sativum cv. Alaska), which results in (a) the incorporation of 14C2H4 into the tissue and (b) the conversion of 14C2H4 to 14CO2, was investigated using 2-day-old etiolated seedlings which exhibit a maximum response. Heat treatment (80 C, 1 min) completely inhibited both a and b, whereas homogenization completely inhibited b but only partially inhibited a. Detaching the cotyledons from the root-shoot axis immediately before exposing the detached cotyledons together with the root-shoot axis to 14C2H4 markedly reduced both a and b. Increasing the 14C2H4 concentration from 0.14 to over 100 μl/l progressively increased the rate of a and b with tissue incorporation being greater than 14C2H4 to 14CO2 conversion only below 0.3 μl/l 14C2H4. Reduction of the O2 concentration reduced both a and b, with over 99% inhibition occurring under anaerobic conditions. The addition of CO2 (5%) severely inhibited 14C2H4 to 14CO2 conversion without significantly affecting tissue incorporation. Exposure of etiolated seedlings to fluorescent light during 14C2H4 treatment was without effect. Similarly, indoleacetic acid, gibberellic acid, benzyladenine, abscisic acid, and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate had no significant effect on either a or b.
The possibilities that the incorporation of 14C2H4 into pea tissues and its conversion to 14CO2 is linked to ethylene action, or that it represents a means of reducing the endogenous ethylene level, are discussed.
Several problems encountered with the use of polyethylene vials, rubber serum stoppers, Clorox, and microbial contamination are also described.
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