Effect of Ethylene and Carbon Dioxide on Potato Metabolism

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Abstract
The respiration of potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum cv. Russet Burbank) which were kept at room temperature for 10 days is stimulated upon subsequent treatment with C2H4 (10 .mu.l/l) and O2. The respiratory rise reaches a peak in 24-30 h and thereafter declines. Coincident with the rise in tuber respiration is an increase in the respiratory rates of fresh slices and isolated mitochondria. Slices and mitochondria from C2H4- and O2-treated tubers also display substantial resistance to CN, and the resistant respiration is inhibited by hydroxamates. The longer the tubers are stored after harvest, the less effective is C2H4 in causing CN resistance in slices and mitochondria from treated tubers. Addition of 10% CO2 to the C2H4-O2 mixture causes extensive CN resistance to develop, even in slices and mitochondria from old tubers. The results show that C2H4, O2 and CO2 act synergistically to induce alternative path development in potatoes.