Inhibitory Effect of a Rhizobitoxine Analog on Bud Growth after Release from Dormancy

Application of the ethoxy analog of rhizobitoxine (l-2-amino-4-[2'-aminoethoxy]-trans-3-butenoic acid), an inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis, inhibited growth of apple, crabapple, and apricot buds released from dormancy by chilling or by treatment with benzyladenine. When tea crabapple (Malus hupehensis [Pamp.] Rehd.) buds were sprayed once with 8.8 x 10(-3)m benzyladenine, ethylene production by the buds increased significantly 24 to 48 hours after benzyladenine treatment. Application of the rhizobitoxine analog to the buds at the time of benzyladenine treatment reduced ethylene evolution to the level of the controls for up to 2 weeks after treatment. Increase in bud weight was inhibited also but to a lesser extent. These data suggest that growth of buds is accompanied by ethylene production and that the inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis also inhibits bud growth. Since additional metabolic effects result from the action of the rhizobitoxine analog, no firm conclusions on its role can be drawn at this time.