The role of ethylene in the development of constant-light injury of potato and tomato.

Abstract

The role of ethylene in the development of constant-light injury of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was investigated. In one study, silver thiosulfate (STS) was applied to the foliage of four potato cultivars growing under constant light. Leaf area and shoot dry mass of 'Kennebec' and 'Superior', cultivars normally injured by constant light, were greater (P < 0.05) than those of control plants given foliar applications of distilled water. Examination of STS-treated 'Kennebec' leaflets revealed significantly less injury (necrotic spotting and reduced starch content) than the water-treated controls. 'Norland' and 'Denali', cultivars tolerant of constant light, exhibited no differences in growth between treatments. In a second study, injury (necrotic spotting and reduced starch content) was induced in leaflets of 'Denali' when exposed to spray applications of 0.5 mmol L-1 ethephon or air containing 0.5 to 0.8 microL L-1 ethylene. In a third study, three genotypes of 'Ailsa Craig' tomato were grown under constant light. Leaves of the normal 'Ailsa Craig' exhibited epinasty, reduced chlorophyll concentration, and reduced starch content. Leaves of a mutant 'Ailsa Craig', containing the Never ripe mutation, did not exhibit epinasty but exhibited the same amount of reduced chlorophyll concentration and starch content as normal plants. Leaves of a transgenic 'Ailsa Craig', containing an antisense gene of 1-aminocyclopropane 1-carboxylate (ACC) oxidase, were epinastic, but chlorophyll concentration and starch content were greater than in leaves of normal and mutant plants. These results suggest that transgenic plants were more tolerant of constant light than the other genotypes. Evidence from these studies indicates that ethylene, combined with constant light, has an important role in the development of constant-light injury.

• Authors: K E Cushman, T W Tibbitts
• Journal: Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. American Society for Horticultural Science (J Am Soc Hortic Sci) Vol. 123 Issue 2 Pg. 239-45 (Mar 1998) ISSN: 0003-1062 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11541112 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Ethylenes
• Organophosphorus Compounds
• Plant Growth Regulators
• Thiosulfates
• Water
• silver thiosulfate
• Silver
• ethylene
• ethephon

Topics

• Biomass
• Ethylenes (adverse effects, antagonists & inhibitors)
• Light (adverse effects)
• Solanum lycopersicum (genetics, growth & development, radiation effects)
• Organophosphorus Compounds (adverse effects)
• Photoperiod
• Plant Growth Regulators (antagonists & inhibitors, pharmacology)
• Plant Leaves (drug effects, growth & development, metabolism, radiation effects)
• Plants, Genetically Modified (drug effects, growth & development, radiation effects)
• Silver (pharmacology)
• Solanum tuberosum (drug effects, genetics, growth & development, radiation effects)
• Thiosulfates (pharmacology)
• Water (pharmacology)