Light stimulation of ethylene release from leaves of Gomphrena globosa L. [Effect of light and carbon dioxide on amount of ethylene released]

The effect of light and CO2 on both the endogenous and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC)-dependent ethylene evolution from metabolically active detached leaves and leaf discs of Gomphrena globosa L. is reported. Treatment with varying concentrations of ACC did not appear to inhibit photosynthesis, respiration, or stomatal behavior. In all treatments, more ethylene was released into a closed flask from ACC-treated tissue, but the pattern of ethylene release with respect to light/dark/CO2 treatments was the same. Leaf tissue in the light with a source of CO2 sufficient to maintain photosynthesis always generates 3 to 4 times more ethylene than tissue in the dark. Conversely, the lowest rate of ethylene release occurs when leaf tissue is illuminated and photosynthetic activity depletes the CO2 to the compensation point. Ethylene release in the dark is also stimulated by CO2 either added to the flask as bicarbonate or generated by dark respiration. Ethylene release increases dramatically and in parallel with photosynthesis at increasing light intensities in this C4 plant. Ethylene release appears dependent on CO2 both in the light and in the dark. Therefore, it is suggested that the important factor regulating the evolution of ethylene gas from leaves of Gomphrena may be CO2 metabolism rather than light per se.