A comparative study of the ability of methionine or linolenic acid to act as precursors of ethylene in plant tissues

Abstract

A comparative study has been made of the ability of three plant tissues to incorporate (14)C into ethylene from (14)C-labelled methionine and derivatives and from (14)C-labelled linolenic acid. Incorporation of label occurs readily from methionine and its derivative 4-methylmercapto-2-oxobutyric acid with apple, tomato or cauliflower floret tissue. No incorporation of label occurred, however, from uniformly (14)C-labelled linolenate.