Nucleotide Sequence of a cDNA Encoding 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Oxidase from Senescing Orchid Petals

Pollination of flowers induces a suite of developmental events that lead to successful production of seeds. These events may include senescence of nonessential floral or- gans, development of the ovary and accessory structures, and floral color changes that serve as cues to pollinators. Many of these processes are mediated through the plant hormone ethylene, which is induced following pollination in climacteric flowers. It is well established that senescence of the perianth of many flowers is induced by ethylene, and recent work by our laboratory has further demonstrated that growth of the ovary and normal development of the male gametophyte in Phalaenopsis orchids are dependent on the production of ethylene (Zhang and ONeill, 1993). For this reason, we have examined the regulation of ethyl- ene biosynthesis following pollination in detail.