Abstract
White light inhibits the conversion of 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in discs of green leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and segments of oat (Avena sativa L.) leaves by from 60 to 90%. Etiolated oat leaves do not show this effect. The general nature of the effect is shown by its presence in both a mono- and a dicotyledon. Since the leaves have been grown and pre-incubated in light, yet can produce from 2 to 9 times as much ethylene in the dark as in the light, it follows that the light inhibition is fully reversible. The inhibition by light is about equal to that exerted in the dark by CoCl2; it can be partly reversed by dithiothreitol and completely by mercaptoethanol. Thus the light is probably acting, via the photosynthetic system, on the SH group(s) of the enzyme system converting ACC to ethylene.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- ACC:
-
1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid
References
Adams, D.O., Yang, S.F. (1979) Ethylene biosynthesis: Identification of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid as an intermediate in the conversion of methionine to ethylene. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76, 170–174
Aharoni, N., Lieberman, M. (1979) Patterns of ethylene production in senescing leaves. Plant Physiol. 64, 796–800
Boller, T., Herner, R.C., Kende, H. (1979) Assay for and enzymatic formation of an ethylene precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid. Planta 145, 293–303
Burg, S.P., Thimann, K.V. (1959) The physiology of ethylene formation in apples. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 45, 335–344
Cameron, A.C., Fenton, C.A.L., Yu, Y., Adams, D.O., Yang, S.F. (1979) Increased production of ethylene by plant tissues treated with ACC. HortScience 14, 128–180
Hall, W.C., Truchelot, G.B., Leinweber, C.L., Herrero, F.A. (1957) Ethylene production by the cotton plant and its effects under experimental and field conditions. Physiol. Plant. 10, 306–317
Kang, B.G., Burg, S.B. (1972) Relation of phytochrome-enhanced sensitivity to ethylene production. Plant Physiol. 50, 132–135
Kang, B.G., Ray, P.M. (1969) Ethylene and carbon dioxide as mediators in the response of the bean hypocotyl hook to light and auxins. Planta 87, 206–216
Klein, W.H. (1959) Interaction of growth factors with photoprocesses of seedling growth. In: Photoperiodism and related phenomena in plants and animals (AAAS Publ. No. 55), pp. 207–215, Withrow, R.B., ed. Washington, D.C., Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci.
Konze, J.R., Kende, H. (1979) Ethylene formation from 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid in homogenates of etiolated pea seedlings. Planta 146, 293–301
Pratt, H.K. (1954) Direct chemical proof of ethylene production by detached leaves. Plant Physiol. 29, 16–18
Tetley, R.M., Thimann, K.V. (1974) The metabolism of oat leaves during senescence. I. Respiration, carbohydrate metabolism and the action of cytokinins. Plant Physiol. 54, 294–303
Ward, T.M., Wright, M., Roberts, J.A., Self, R., Osborne, D.J. (1978) Analytical procedures for the assay and identification of ethylene. In: Isolation of plant growth substances, pp. 135–151, Hillman, J.R., ed.. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.
Yu, Y.-B., Yang, S.F. (1979) Auxin-induced ethylene production and its inhibition by aminoethoxyvinylglycine and cobalt ion. Plant Physiol. 64, 1074–1077
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gepstein, S., Thimann, K.V. The effect of light on the production of ethylene from 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid by leaves. Planta 149, 196–199 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380882
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380882