Abstract
Placing cut snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L.) spikes horizontally induced elevated ethylene production rates. The imposition of curvature was preceded (2 h after gravistimulation) by an asymmetrical distribution of ethylene between lower and upper longitudinally halved stem sections, in favor of the lower halves. A corresponding gradient of free IAA could be detected only 30 min after gravistimulation. This IAA gradient was rapidly reversed after 1–24 h of gravistimulation, showing higher IAA levels in the upper stem halves. Additionally, one ACC synthase (ACS) gene, isolated from the bending zone of horizontal spikes, was apparently not expressed in IAA-treated stems. Thus, the gravity-induced ethylene asymmetry does not reflect an asymmetrical distribution of free IAA, but rather possibly exhibits a stress response imposed by change of stem orientation. Abolishing the ethylene gradient across the stem by applying various ethylene inhibitors [CoCl2, aminoethoxyvinyl-glycine (AVG), silver thiosulfate (STS), 2,5-norbornadiene (NBD), or 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP)], by exposure to ethylene (1-10 μl l-1), or by using Ca2+ antagonists [LaCl3, EGTA, 1,2-bis (2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N’,N’-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) or trans-1,2-cyclohexane dinitro-N,N,N’,N’-tetraacetic acid (CDTA)], significantly inhibited curvature. This indicates that the ethylene gradient is correlated with bending. The results therefore suggest a role for ethylene in mediating the progress of the gravitropic response.
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Philosoph-Hadas, S. et al. (1999). Involvement of Ethylene Biosynthesis and Action in Regulation of the Gravitropic Response of Cut Flowers. In: Kanellis, A.K., Chang, C., Klee, H., Bleecker, A.B., Pech, J.C., Grierson, D. (eds) Biology and Biotechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene II. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4453-7_25
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4453-7_25
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