Abstract
Two structural analogues of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), 1-ethylcyclopropene (1-ECP) and 1-propylcyclopropene (1-PCP) were found to inhibit ethylene action and thereby the responses to ethylene in various plant systems. When applied prior to exposure to ethylene, the analogues considerably delayed ethylene-induced ripening of avocado and tomato fruits, delayed citrus leaf explants abscission and reversed ethylene-induced swelling and inhibition of elongation in etiolated pea plants. The analogues exerted their effect in a concentration-depended manner, at a range of several parts per million. Of the two analogues, 1-ECP was found in all cases more potent than 1-PCP but less potent then the mother compound 1-MCP. It is proposed that the analogues inhibit ethylene action by competing for the sites of binding on the ethylene receptor, similar to the mode of action suggested for 1-MCP. Findings revealed in this study imply that the competition of ethylene and the analogues for the ethylene site of binding is of a non-competitive nature. The analogues effectively inhibited ethylene action only if applied before the plant material was exposed to ethylene, or in the case of fruits shortly after harvest. Simultaneous application of the analogues and ethylene reduced the inhibitory effect of the analogues. Application of the analogues after exposure to ethylene or after fruit ripening had nullified the inhibitory effect of the analogues. Ripening of fruits, treated with the analogues, was inhibited for a finite period of time after which the fruits ripened normally. This resumption of ripening ability is attributed to presence of free binding sites on the ethylene receptor at the point of recovery from the inhibition. As the analogues are volatile, non-corrosive, non-toxic, odorless compounds and effective at minute concentrations, they can be considered promising candidates for practical use.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abeles F.B., Morgan P.W. and Saltveit M.E. Jr. 1992. Ethylene in Plant Biology 2nd edn. Academic Press, New York, 414 pp.
Apelbaum A. 1990. Interrelationship between polyamines and ethylene and its implication for plant growth and fruit ripening. In: Flore H.E., Arteca R.N. and Shannon J.C. (eds), Polyamines and Ethylene: Biochemistry, Physiology, and Interactions, American Society of Plant Physiologists, Rockville, MD, pp. 278–294.
Apelbaum A. and Burg S.P. 1972. Effect of ethylene on cell division and DNA synthesis in Pisum sativum. Plant Physiol. 50: 125–131.
Al Dulayymi A.R., Al Dulayymi J.R. and Koza G. 1997. Simple four and five carbon cyclopropane and cyclopropene synthetic intermediates. Russ. J. Org. Chem. 33.
Al Dulayymi J.R., Baird M.S., Simpson M.J. and Nyman S. 1996. Structure based interference with insect behaviourcyclopropene analogs of pheromones containing Z-alkenes. Tetrahedron 52: 12509–12520.
Beyer E.M. Jr. 1979. Effect of silver ion, carbon dioxide, and oxygen on ethylene action and metabolism. Plant Physiol. 60: 169–173.
Blankenship S.M. and Dole J.M. 2003. 1-Methylcyclopropene: A review. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 28: 1–25.
Brady C.J. 1987. Fruit ripening. Annu. Rev. of Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 38: 155–178.
Burns J.K. and Lewandowski D.J. 2001. Genetics and expression of pectinmethylesterase, endo-?-glucanase and polygalacturonase genes in Valencia orange. In: Goren R. and Goldschmidt E.E. (eds), Proceedings of the 1st International Citrus Biotechnology Symposium, Eilat, Israel; Acta Hort. 535: 65-80.
Cameron A.C. and Reid M.S. 2001. 1-MCP blocks ethyleneinduced petal abscission of Pelargonium peltatum but the effect is transient. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 22: 169–177.
Feng X., Apelbaum A., Sisler E.C. and Goren R. 2000. Control of ethylene responses in avocado fruit with 1-methylcyclopropene. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 20: 143–150.
Golding J.B., Shearer D., Wyllie S.G. and McGlasson W.B. 1998. Application of 1-MCP and propylene to identify ethylene-dependent ripening processes in mature banana fruit. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 14: 87–98.
Goren R. and Huberman M. 1979. Exo-and endo-cellulase and polygalacturonase in abscission zones of developing orange fruits. Physiol. Plant. 45: 189–196.
Goren R. 1993. Anatomical, physiological, and hormonal aspects of abscission in citrus. Horti. Rev. 15: 145–182.
Goren R., Feng X., Apelbaum A. and Sisler E.C. 2001. Effect of two structural analogues of 1-methylcyclopropane on ethylene-induced ripening of avocado fruits. In: Ben-Arie R. and Phylosophhadas S. (eds), Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Postharvest Science, Jerusalem, Israel, March 2000; Acta Hortic. 553: 133-166.
Greenberg J., Goren R. and Riov J. 1975. The role of cellulase and polygalacturonase in abscission of young and mature Shamouti orange fruit. Physiol. Plant. 30: 1–7.
Hua J. and Meyerowitz E. 1998. Ethylene responses are negatively regulated by a receptor gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana. Cell 94: 261–271.
Ku V.V.V. and Wills R.B.H. 1999. Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene on the storage life of broccoli. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 17: 127–132.
Li C.Y., Jacob-Wilk D., Zhong G., Goren R. and Holland D. 1998. A full-length cDNA encoding an ethylene receptor ERS homologue from citrus (Accession Number AF092088). Plant Physiol. 118: 1534.
Mir N.A., Curell E., Khan N., Whitaker M. and Beaudry R.M. 2001. Harvest maturity, storage temperature, and 1-MCP application frequency alter firmness retention and chlorophyll fluorescence of 'Redchief Delicious' apples. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 126: 616–624.
Pesis E., Fuchs Y. and Zauberman G. 1978. Cellulase activity and fruit softening in avocado. Plant Physiol. 61: 416–419.
Ratner A. and Monselise S.P. 1969. Activity of pectinesterase and cellulase in abscission zone of citrus leaf explants. Plant Physiol. 44: 1717–1723.
Riov J. 1974. A polygalacturonase from citrus leaf explants. Role in abscission. Plant Physiol. 53: 312–316.
Sagee O., Goren R. and Riov J. 1980. Abscission of citrus leaf explants. Interrelationships of abscisic acid, ethylene and hydrolytic enzymes. Plant Physiol. 66: 750–753.
Schaller G.E. and Bleecker A.B. 1995. Ethylene-binding sites generated in yeast expressing the Arabidopsis ETR1 gene. Science 270: 1809–1811.
Sisler E.C. and Serek M. 1997. Inhibitors of ethylene responses in plants at the receptor level: Recent developments. Physiol. Plant. 100: 577–582.
Sisler E.C. and Wood C. 1988. Competition of unsaturated compounds with ethylene for binding and action in plants. Plant Growth Regul. 7: 181–191.
Sisler E.C., Goren R. and Huberman M. 1985. Effect of 2,5-norbornadiene on abscission and ethylene production in citrus leaf explants. Physiol. Plant. 63: 114–120.
Sisler E.C. and Serek M. 1999. Compounds controlling the ethylene receptor. Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. 40: 1–7.
Sisler E.C., Alwan T., Apelbaum A., Serek M. and Goren R. 2003. 1-substituted cyclopropenes: Effective blocking agents for the ethylene receptor in plants. Plant Growth Regul. 40: 223–228.
Tucker M.L., Sexton R., Campillo del E. and Lewis L.N. 1988. Bean abscission cellulase. Characterization of a cDNAs and regulation of gene expression by ethylene and auxin. Plant Physiol. 88: 1257–1262.
Veen H. and Overbeek J.H.M. 1989. The action of silver thiosulphate in carnation petals. In: Clijsters H. et al. (eds), Biochemical and Physiological Aspects of Ethylene Production in Lower and Higher Plants, Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 109-117.
Wuzburger J. and Goren R. 1978. Abscission of citrus leaf explants. No correlation with naphthaleneacetic acid conjugation in abscission zone. Plant Physiol. 62: 295–298.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Feng, X., Apelbaum, A., Sisler, E.C. et al. Control of ethylene activity in various plant systems by structural analogues of 1-methylcyclopropene. Plant Growth Regulation 42, 29–38 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:GROW.0000014900.12351.4e
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:GROW.0000014900.12351.4e