14C2H4: Its Incorporation and Oxidation to 14CO2 by Cut Carnations

Cut carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. ;Improved White Sim') were exposed to ultra high purity (14)C(2)H(4) (20 mul/1) during flower opening and senescence to study its incorporation and metabolism. During treatment precautions were taken to exclude inhibitory volatiles from rubber serum stoppers which were identified as CS(2) and COS. As with the pea seedling (Nature 1975, 255:144-147), cut carnations incorporated (14)C(2)H(4) into ethanol-soluble tissue metabolites and oxidized the hormone to (14)CO(2). Oxidation increased from 0.5 to 3 dpm . mg dry wt(-1).6 hr(-1) during the period of flower opening and early petal wilt. As severe petal wilt set in, and the ovary increased in size and dry weight, oxidation increased to a peak of nearly 29 dpm . mg dry wt(-1).6 hr(-1). Concomitant with this peak was a similar rise in the rate of (14)C(2)H(4) incorporation into the petals, peduncle, bracts, and sepals. Much higher rates of incorporation were found for the reproductive and receptacle tissues. Incorporation into these tissues steadily increased during flower opening reaching a peak of over 160 dpm . mg dry wt(-1) . 6 hr(-1) just before full bloom. This peak preceded a peak of endogenous ethylene production while the (14)C(2)H(4) oxidation peak followed it.