Regulation of water-stress-induced ethylene in citrus leaves

Joseph Riov, Reisha Hausman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Whole detached citrus leaves (Citrus sinensis [LJ Osbeck) were subjected to water stress by allowing them to lose water until their initial fresh weight decreased by about 15%. Ethylene production in water-stressed leaves increased significantly reaching a peak 4 h after termination of the stress treatment and decreased rapidly to control level thereafter. The enhancement in ethylene production was the result of an increase both in the synthesis of 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC) and in the activity of ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE). The increase in ACC level peaked 2 h after termination of the stress treatment, whereas EFE activity increased gradually with time. Pretreatment with abscisic acid (ABA) had no effect on ethylene production in whole detached leaves subjected to water stress. In water-stressed leaf discs, ABA pretreatment stimulated ethylate production. Norbomadiene, a competitive inhibitor of ethylene, enhanced the ethylene production rate in water- stressed leaves and delayed its subsequent reduction. Propylene, an ethylene analog, had no effect on ethylene production in stressed leaves. The possible involvement of an autoinhibition of ethylene production in regulating the level of water-stress- induced ethylene in citrus leaves is discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)83-91
Number of pages9
JournalIsrael Journal of Botany
Volume37
Issue number2-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1988

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