Ethylene Production by Hevea brasiliensis Tissues Treated with Latex Yield-stirnulatory Compounds

Leaflets and pieces of immature stem of Hevea brasiliensis were treated with a range of compounds, and the subsequent rates of release of ethylene compared with the reported efficacy of the individual substances as stimulants of latex yield. The most effective ethylene inducers were also the best stimulants. Amongst the 53 compounds tested, no compound which was not a yield stimulant induced the formation of significant amounts of ethylene. Of all the known stimulants tested, only acetylene was neither converted to, nor induced the formation of ethylene.