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Bulbing of onions ( Allium cepa L.): The role of endogenous ethylene *
Author(s) -
LEVY DAVID,
GOLDSCHMIDT ELIEZER E.,
KEDAR NAHUM
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3040.1979.tb00787.x
Subject(s) - ethylene , allium , bulb , chemistry , endogeny , botany , horticulture , biology , biochemistry , catalysis
Bulbing of onions under naturally increasing daylengths was typically associated with elevated rates of ethylene evolution (10−20 mm 3 × 10 3 g −1 h −1 ) during the initial stages of bulbing, followed by a decline to very low rates (1 mm 3 × 10 3 g −1 h −1 ) towards bulb maturation. However, detailed comparisons conducted under controlled photoperiodic conditions showed only slight differences in the course of ethylene evolution between inductive and non‐inductive lighting regimens. Bulbing was not prevented by hypobaric ventilation or by treatments with the ethoxy analogue of rhizobitoxine, but Ag + interfered with bulbing. Although exogenous ethylene induces bulbing under non‐inductive photoperiodic conditions, the role of endogenous ethylene in the natural process requires further clarification.