In the Early Response of Arabidopsis Roots to Ethylene, Cell Elongation Is Up- and Down-Regulated and Uncoupled from Differentiation

Abstract

Slight changes in the concentration of ethylene in the environment modulate the elongation of target cells in the root epidermis of Arabidopsis. The response is immediate, concentration dependent, and reversible on root base but irreversible on cell base, whereas cell differentiation is not affected. We suggest that in natura ethylene is a means of fine and fast tuning of root elongation.