Control of cell proliferation and differentiation by modulators of ethylene biosynthesis and action in Brassica hypocotyl explants

Abstract

In Brassica cultures, proliferation could be induced by ethylene precursors, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) or 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) with concomitant increase in the ethylene level, while the inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis, aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and cobalt chloride, and the ethylene antagonist silver nitrate induced a higher percentage of shoot differentiation, with reduced ethylene level, compared to the hormone control. Putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and the amino acids L-methionine or L-threonine, which increased proliferation, enhanced ethylene emanation as compared to the differentiating cultures raised on methylglyoxal-bis-(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG), L-leucine or L-isoleucine.