title: The compartmentation of ethylene in developing cotyledons of Phaseolus vulgaris L.
abstract: Isolated cotyledons of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Canadian Wonder accumulated (14)C2H4 (0.7-1 μl l(-1)) from air to give partition coefficients of 1 to 4, which greatly exceeded the value obtained with steam killed cotyledons (0.05) and with water (0.11). After (14)C2H4 treatment, 98% of the (14)C in the tissue remained as (14)C2H4. The labelled ethylene accumulated by cotyledons was released only slowly (1-10% h(-1)) either in an air stream or into toluene. Heating to 60°C for 2 h, but not freezing and thawing, caused the immediate release of (14)C2H4 from the tissue. Propylene and vinyl chloride competitively inhibited the accumulation of (14)C2H4.Cotyledons emanated endogenous ethylene at a very low rate but after heating (although not freezing and thawing) 13 nl of ethylene per g fresh mass were released within minutes. It was concluded that french bean cotyledons hold ethylene in a compartmented form in sufficient amount to account for at least 200 h of emanation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, University College of Wales, SY23 3EB, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, U.K..
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Jerie
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Shaari
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hall