Ethylene Production by Plant Cell Cultures

Abstract

Cell suspension cultures of Ruta graveolens (rue) and Rosa sp. produce ethylene. Both cultures grow at a high rate in hormone-free media. The rose cells are undifferentiated while the Ruta cells differentiate and form shoots after extended culture in hormone-free medium. Addition of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid stimulated ethylene production in Ruta cells but not in rose cells. Abscisic acid (ABA) inhibited growth and ethylene production in rose, but only ethylene production in Ruta cells. Addition of kinetin reversed the inhibition by abscisic acid in the rose cells but not in the Ruta cells. The results suggested a distinct physiological difference between the two cultures. The Ruta cells responded to the growth regulators in a manner similar to whole plants.