PLANT PHYSIOLOGY , Vol 106, Issue 2 601-606, Copyright © 1994 by American Society of Plant Biologists
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ENVIRONMENTAL AND STRESS PHYSIOLOGY |
Ethylene Production during Development of Mustard (Brassica juncea) and Canola (Brassica napus) Seed
A. M. Johnson-Flanagan and M. S. Spencer
Department of Plant Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2P5
An open, continuous flow system was used to investigate ethylene production
during degreening of maturing seed of mustard (Brassica juncea cv Cutlass
and cv Lethbridge 22A) and canola (Brassica napus cv Westar and cv Alto).
Isolated mustard seed evolved higher amounts of ethylene than those of
canola, and this was particularly evident both early in embryogeny and
later during the desiccation phase of seed maturation. The silique walls
produced negligible amounts of ethylene in both species. The concentrations
of ethylene surrounding seed as they matured within siliques were
significantly higher in mustard than in canola, and this interspecies
difference was greatest during the seed desiccation phase. In mustard, a
4-fold increase in silique internal ethylene levels was apparent during
desiccation. In comparison, only a moderate increase in silique-derived
ethylene occurred in canola.
