Stimulation of ethylene or ethane production by malformin12

Abstract

Malformin stimulated ethylene production of Phaseolus vulgaris L. seedlings and explants. However, when malformin was vacuum-infiltrated into apical bud sections, the production of ethylene was inhibited, ethane production was stimulated and the sections became soft and pliable; in pure oxygen, ethylene production was- stimulated and the sections remained firm. Prolonged stimulation of ethane production by malformin-treated sections required oxygen. Indoleacetic acid (IAA) had no effect on the stimulation of ethane production by malformin-infiltrated tissues; malformin and IAA stimulated ethylene production synergistically at the same time that malformininduced ethane production had increased markedly.