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High CO 2 levels reduce ethylene production in kiwifruit
Author(s) -
Rothan Christophe,
Nicolas Jacques
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1994.tb06647.x
Subject(s) - ethylene , actinidia deliciosa , carbon dioxide , chemistry , horticulture , nuclear chemistry , biochemistry , biology , organic chemistry , catalysis
The effects of CO 2 on ethylene production rates and on the conversion of 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) to ethylene have been investigated in kiwifruit [ Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) Liang and Ferguson, cv. Hayward] pericarp tissues. Carbon dioxide concentrations up to 10% notably reduced ethylene production rates but did not affect ACC levels. Carbon dioxide levels from 10 to 28.5% slightly reduced wound‐induced ACC accumulation but resulted in only a slight additional reduction in ethylene production. However, in the presence of saturating amounts of ACC, ethylene formation was stimulated by high CO 2 : levels. The apparent V max and K m for ACC of the in vivo conversion of ACC to ethylene were both increased by high CO 2 although to a different extent. When CO 2 concentrations were increased from 0.2 to 28.5%, the V max varied from 50 to 90 nl g –1 h –1 while the K m for ACC increased from 15 to 72 μ M . Thus, the V max over K m ratio, which represents the efficiency of ACC conversion to ethylene when ACC concentrations are very low, was reduced by 40% in the presence of 5% CO 2 and by 60% in the presence of 28% CO 2 . The concentrations of ACC, at which ACC, oxidase was inhibited by high CO 2 are comparable to the concentrations found in the fruit. It is therefore suggested that the reduction of ethylene production rates in fruits by high CO 2 might be exerted at least partially at the level of the conversion of ACC to ethylene.