ARS | Publication request: ROLE OF ETHYLENE IN POTATO MICROTUBER DORMANCY

Submitted to: American Society of Plant Physiologists Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 30, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Under appropriate in-vitro conditions, axillary buds of single-node explants of S. tuberosum L. cv. Russet Burbank rapidly differentiate into microtubers. Microtuber initiation occurs within 2 weeks of culture and is complete by ca. 9-12 weeks. Throughout this period of development, microtubers are dormant and do not sprout. Isolated explants produce ethylene throughout the culture period. The rate of ethylene production is highest during the initial period of in-vitro culture and declines thereafter. Inclusion of silver nitrate in the culture medium ha no effect on the rate or extent of tuberization but results in premature sprouting of the newly formed tubers. Similarly, continuous exposure of the explants to 2,5-norbornadiene has little effect on tuberization but results in a dose-dependent increase in premature sprouting. These results suggest a role for endogenous ethylene in the development of microtuber dormancy. Additional studies are in progress to further evaluate this hypothesis.