Hormonal regulation of tuber induction in radish (Raphanus sativus): Role of ethylene [in vitro culture]

When young radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv, Novired RS) plants were exposed to low levels of ethylene, the fresh weight and dry weight of the tubers significantly increased. This was mainly because ethylene reduced the percentage of plants that hardly or not at all formed a tuber. Decaptated seedling cultured in vitro, were supplied with several plant growth regulators in order to determine a possible correlation between the induction of radial growth and the biosynthesis of ethylene in the hypocotyl. Indole‐3‐acetic acid, or in combination with 6‐benzylaminopurine, induced growth of the hypocotyl and markedly enhanced ethylene biosynthesis. However, the application of a precursor and an inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis revealed that there is no direct causal relationship between radial growth and ethylene evolution. It is suggested that ethylene favoured tuber growth in intact plants by changing the partitioning of assimilates in the plant, rather than by the induction of cambial activity.