Plant Physiology 69:840-847 (1982)
© 1982 American Society of Plant Biologists
Articles
Ethylene, Ethane, Acetaldehyde, and Ethanol Production By Plants under Stress 1
Thomas W. Kimmerer and
Theodore T. Kozlowski
Department of Forestry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
Red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) and paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) seedlings exposed to sulfur dioxide produced acetaldehyde and ethanol, and exhibited increased production of ethylene and ethane. Gas chromatographic measurement of head space gas from incubation tubes containing leaves or seedlings was a simple method of simultaneously measuring all four compounds. Increased ethylene production had two phases, a moderate increase from the beginning of the stress period and a large increase just prior to appearance of leaf lesions. Ethane production in SO2-stressed plants did not increase until lesions appeared. Acetaldehyde and ethanol production began within 6 hours at 0.3 microliter per liter SO2 and 24 hours at 0.1 microliter per liter SO2 and continued throughout a 6-day fumigation. Production of acetaldehyde and ethanol continued when plants were removed to clean air for up to 2 days. A higher concentration of SO2 (0.5 microliter per liter) induced acetaldehyde and ethanol production within 2 hours of the start of fumigation of birch and pine seedlings. A number of other stresses, including water deficit, freezing, and ozone exposure induced production of acetaldehyde and ethanol. Production of these compounds was not due to hypoxia, as the O2 partial pressure in the incubation vessels did not decline. Increasing the O2 partial pressure to 300 millimeters Hg did not affect production of these compounds. Production of ethylene, acetaldehyde, and ethanol declined when more than 80% of the leaf area became necrotic, while ethane production was linearly related to the percentage of necrosis. A number of woody and herbaceous plant species produced acetaldehyde and ethanol in response to freezing stress, while others did not. Measurement of these four compounds simultaneously in the gas phase may be a valuable method for monitoring plant stress, particularly air pollution stress.
1 Supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
M. Graus, J.-P. Schnitzler, A. Hansel, C. Cojocariu, H. Rennenberg, A. Wisthaler, and J. Kreuzwieser
Transient Release of Oxygenated Volatile Organic Compounds during Light-Dark Transitions in Grey Poplar Leaves
Plant Physiology,
August 1, 2004;
135(4):
1967 - 1975.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. Kursteiner, I. Dupuis, and C. Kuhlemeier
The Pyruvate decarboxylase1 Gene of Arabidopsis Is Required during Anoxia But Not Other Environmental Stresses
Plant Physiology,
June 1, 2003;
132(2):
968 - 978.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Fujita and M. Z. Hossain
Modulation of Pumpkin Glutathione S-Transferases by Aldehydes and Related Compounds
Plant Cell Physiol.,
May 15, 2003;
44(5):
481 - 490.
[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]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Frenkel, J. S. Peters, D. M. Tieman, M. E. Tiznado, and A. K. Handa
Pectin Methylesterase Regulates Methanol and Ethanol Accumulation in Ripening Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Fruit
J. Biol. Chem.,
February 20, 1998;
273(8):
4293 - 4295.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
