PLANT PHYSIOLOGY , Vol 103, Issue 3 783-791, Copyright © 1993 by American Society of Plant Biologists

ENVIRONMENTAL AND STRESS PHYSIOLOGY

Submergence-Induced Ethylene Synthesis, Entrapment, and Growth in Two Plant Species with Contrasting Flooding Resistances

LACJ. Voesenek, M. Banga, R. H. Thier, C. M. Mudde, FJM. Harren, GWM. Barendse and CWPM. Blom
Department of Ecology (L.A.C.J.V., M.B., R.H.T., C.M.M., G.W.M.B., C.W.P.M.B.) and Department of Molecular and Laser Physics (F.J.M.H.), University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Submergence-induced ethylene synthesis and entrapment were studied in two contrasting Rumex species, one flood-resistant (Rumex palustris) and the other flood-sensitive (Rumex acetosa). The application of a photoacoustic method to determine internal ethylene concentrations in submerged plants is discussed. A comparison with an older technique (vacuum extraction) is described. For the first time ethylene production before, during, and after submergence and the endogenous concentration during submergence were continuously measured on a single intact plant without physical perturbation. Both Rumex species were characterized by enhanced ethylene concentrations in the shoot after 24 h of submergence. This was not related to enhanced synthesis but to continued production and physical entrapment. In R. palustris, high endogenous ethylene levels correlated with enhanced petiole and lamina elongation. No dramatic change in leaf growth rate was observed in submerged R. acetosa shoots. After desubmergence both species showed an increase in ethylene production, the response being more pronounced in R. palustris. This increase was linked to the enhanced postsubmergence growth rate of leaves of R. palustris. Due to the very rapid escape of ethylene out of desubmerged plants to the atmosphere (90% disappeared within 1 min), substantial underestimation of internal ethylene concentrations can be expected using more conventional vacuum extraction techniques.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				X. Chen, H. Huber, H. de Kroon, A. J. M. Peeters, H. Poorter, L. A. C. J. Voesenek, and E. J. W. Visser Intraspecific variation in the magnitude and pattern of flooding-induced shoot elongation in Rumex palustris Ann. Bot., November 1, 2009; 104(6): 1057 - 1067. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. B. Jackson Ethylene-promoted Elongation: an Adaptation to Submergence Stress Ann. Bot., January 1, 2008; 101(2): 229 - 248. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Benschop, J. Bou, A. J.M. Peeters, N. Wagemaker, K. Guhl, D. Ward, P. Hedden, T. Moritz, and L. A.C.J. Voesenek Long-Term Submergence-Induced Elongation in Rumex palustris Requires Abscisic Acid-Dependent Biosynthesis of Gibberellin1 Plant Physiology, August 1, 2006; 141(4): 1644 - 1652. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Tanaka, T. Sano, M. Tamaoki, N. Nakajima, N. Kondo, and S. Hasezawa Cytokinin and auxin inhibit abscisic acid-induced stomatal closure by enhancing ethylene production in Arabidopsis J. Exp. Bot., July 1, 2006; 57(10): 2259 - 2266. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. S. Ella and A. M. Ismail Seedling Nutrient Status before Submergence Affects Survival after Submergence in Rice Crop Sci., June 20, 2006; 46(4): 1673 - 1681. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Steffens and M. Sauter Epidermal Cell Death in Rice Is Regulated by Ethylene, Gibberellin, and Abscisic Acid Plant Physiology, October 1, 2005; 139(2): 713 - 721. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. MOMMER and E. J. W. VISSER Underwater Photosynthesis in Flooded Terrestrial Plants: A Matter of Leaf Plasticity Ann. Bot., September 1, 2005; 96(4): 581 - 589. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. PIERIK, F. F. MILLENAAR, A. J. M. PEETERS, and L. A. C. J. VOESENEK New Perspectives in Flooding Research: the Use of Shade Avoidance and Arabidopsis thaliana Ann. Bot., September 1, 2005; 96(4): 533 - 540. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Balota, S. Cristescu, W. A. Payne, S. te Lintel Hekkert, L. J. J. Laarhoven, and F. J. M. Harren Ethylene Production of Two Wheat Cultivars Exposed to Desiccation, Heat, and Paraquat-Induced Oxidation Crop Sci., May 1, 2004; 44(3): 812 - 818. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. C.H. Cox, F. F. Millenaar, Y. E.M. d. J. van Berkel, A. J.M. Peeters, and L. A.C.J. Voesenek Plant Movement. Submergence-Induced Petiole Elongation in Rumex palustris Depends on Hyponastic Growth Plant Physiology, May 1, 2003; 132(1): 282 - 291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. C. J. VOESENEK, J. J. BENSCHOP, J. BOU, M. C. H. COX, H. W. GROENEVELD, F. F. MILLENAAR, R. A. M. VREEBURG, and A. J. M. PEETERS Interactions Between Plant Hormones Regulate Submergence-induced Shoot Elongation in the Flooding-tolerant Dicot Rumex palustris Ann. Bot., January 2, 2003; 91(2): 205 - 211. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. B. JACKSON and P. C. RAM Physiological and Molecular Basis of Susceptibility and Tolerance of Rice Plants to Complete Submergence Ann. Bot., January 2, 2003; 91(2): 227 - 241. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J.M. Peeters, M. C.H. Cox, J. J. Benschop, R. A.M. Vreeburg, J. Bou, and L. A.C.J. Voesenek Submergence research using Rumex palustris as a model; looking back and going forward J. Exp. Bot., March 1, 2002; 53(368): 391 - 398. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Leprince, F. J.M. Harren, J. Buitink, M. Alberda, and F. A. Hoekstra Metabolic Dysfunction and Unabated Respiration Precede the Loss of Membrane Integrity during Dehydration of Germinating Radicles Plant Physiology, February 1, 2000; 122(2): 597 - 608. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				W. H. Vriezen, R. Hulzink, C. Mariani, and L. A.C.J. Voesenek 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Oxidase Activity Limits Ethylene Biosynthesis in Rumex palustris during Submergence Plant Physiology, September 1, 1999; 121(1): 189 - 196. [Abstract] [Full Text]