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Relationship between Ethylene and the Growth of Ficus sycomorus

^a Department of Botany, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel and the Volcani Institute of Agricultural Research, Bet-Dagan, Israel

The relationship between ethylene and growth was investigated in Ficus sycomorus L. A marked increase in ethylene emanation preceeded all the phases of rapid growth and ripening of the syconium.

Gashing of fig during the 16th to 22nd day of syconium development induced a 50-fold increase in the rate of ethylene emanation within the 1st hour, and a 2- to 3-fold increase in diameter and weight, followed by ripening within 3 days. Application of ethylene, Ethephon, and auxins caused the same effects as wounding. Since the auxin and Ethephon induced ethylene emanation, it is concluded that ethylene is mainly responsible for the marked morphological changes caused by gashing. The stage of slow growth of this fruit is characterized by slow emanation of ethylene, low sensitivity to exogenous ethylene, and no morphological responses to gashing.