Ethylene-induced Fine Structure Alterations in Cotton and Sugarbeet Radicle Cells

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Abstract
EM examination of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) radicles subjected to ethylene at 1, 10 and 100 ml/l and a saturated ethylene atmosphere showed distinct ultrastructural differences compared to aerobic, control tissue and to anaerobic, N-treated radicles. Short term ethylene treatments of 1 h induced the formation of cisternal stacks of rough endoplasmic reticulum in undifferentiated radicle cells. Similar profiles of rough endoplasmic reticulum were not observed in control radicles, but were found in N-treated tissues. Ribosomes in all ethylene-treated radicles were larger than ribosomes in control and N-treated cells. By ribosome density determinations it was found that the ethylene-treated ribosomes were swollen and less dense. The cell walls of the ethylene-treated tissue were expanded and less dense than those of control tissue.