This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Web of Science (132) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lau, O.-L. Articles by Yang, S. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lau, O.-L. Articles by Yang, S. F. Agricola Articles by Lau, O.-L. Articles by Yang, S. F.

Articles

Inhibition of Ethylene Production by Cobaltous Ion ¹

^a Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis, California 95616

The effect of Co²⁺ on ethylene production by mung bean (Phaseolus aureus Roxb.) and by apple tissues was studied. Co²⁺, depending on concentrations applied, effectively inhibited ethylene production by both tissues. It also strongly inhibited the ethylene production induced by IAA, kinetin, IAA plus kinetin, Ca²⁺, kinetin plus Ca²⁺, or Cu²⁺ treatments in mung bean hypocotyl segments. While Co²⁺ greatly inhibited ethylene production, it had little effect on the respiration of apple tissue, indicating that Co²⁺ does not exert its inhibitory effect as a general metabolic inhibitor. Ni²⁺, which belongs to the same group as Co²⁺ in the periodic table, also markedly curtailed both the basal and the induced ethylene production by apple and mung bean hypocotyl tissues.

In a system in which kinetin and Ca²⁺ were applied together, kinetin greatly enhanced Ca²⁺ uptake, thus enhancing ethylene production. Co²⁺, however, slightly inhibited the uptake of Ca²⁺ but appreciably inhibited ethylene production, either in the presence or in the absence of kinetin. Tracer experiments using apple tissue indicated that Co²⁺ strongly inhibited the in vivo conversion of L-[U-¹⁴C]methionine to ¹⁴C-ethylene. These data suggest that Co²⁺ inhibited ethylene production by inhibiting the conversion of methionine to ethylene, a common step which is required for ethylene formation by higher plants.

Co²⁺ is known to promote elongation, leaf expansion, and hook opening in excised plant parts in response to applied auxins or cytokinins. Since ethylene is known to inhibit these growth phenomena, it is suggested that Co²⁺ exerts its promotive effect, at least in part, by inhibiting ethylene formation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Oracz, H. El-Maarouf-Bouteau, R. Bogatek, F. Corbineau, and C. Bailly Release of sunflower seed dormancy by cyanide: cross-talk with ethylene signalling pathway J. Exp. Bot., May 1, 2008; 59(8): 2241 - 2251. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Merritt, A. Kemper, and G. Tallman Inhibitors of Ethylene Synthesis Inhibit Auxin-Induced Stomatal Opening in Epidermis Detached from Leaves of Vicia Faba L. Plant Cell Physiol., February 1, 2001; 42(2): 223 - 230. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. WHEELER and F. B. SALISBURY Gravitropism in Plant Stems May Require Ethylene Science, September 5, 1980; 209(4461): 1126 - 1128. [Abstract] [PDF]