Effects of exogenous ethylene on ethylene production in discs of mume fruits

Summary

Endogenous ethylene production in intact ripening fruits of mume (Prunus mume Sieb, et Zucc.) proceeded according to the usual pathway in ethylene biosynthesis (methionine → S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) → 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC) → ethylene). When discs prepared from immature mume fruits were treated with ethylene at 0.1 μl l^?1 or higher for 12 h at 20°C, the rate of ethylene production declined markedly. The inhibition of the ACC synthase activity by exogenous ethylene was accompanied by a decrease in ACC content. There was no significant difference in SAM content between ethylene-treated and the untreated discs.