The role of ethylene in the plant

Stoller Europe focuses with some of its products, including . en Hold Plus, on controlling or reducing the ethylene level in the plant. Why is ethylene such an important hormone and how can we regulate this?

Ethylene is a maturing hormone and, above all, an aging hormone and belongs to the group of stress hormones. It also plays an important role in breaking bud dormancy, fruit ripening, stem growth and flowering. Ethylene is therefore an essential hormone, especially during the final growth phases of the plant. Ethylene is mainly produced by the mature cells and the highest production therefore takes place at the end of plant growth. Ethylene also inhibits an important growth hormone, auxin.

Ethylene production in the plant.
In the plant, ethylene is synthesized from the amino acid methionine through a number of steps. An important intermediate during the formation of ethylene is ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid). ACC is the compound that is converted to ethylene (C2H4) by the EFE enzyme (Ethylene Forming Enzyme).

Below the ethylene formation shown in the Yang cycle:

Under abiotic stress conditions, the production of ethylene is increased, causing an accelerated aging process in the plant. This has a negative effect on the yield. Too high a content of ethylene causes damage in the plant itself. But what damage are we talking about here?

Effects of high ethylene production by the plant
An increased level of ethylene means an increased production of oxalic acid.

Together with Calcium (Ca), this oxalic acid forms crystals in the plant, so that Ca will no longer be available to the plant. Calcium plays an important role in the strength of the plant (cell walls, cell elongation and cell growth), regulates the Ph in the plant itself and increases the resistance against external pathogens. The poor availability of Ca due to the formation of these crystals can, among other things, show leaf point burning and will have a negative effect on the peel quality of potatoes or other fruits and vegetables. It also affects the storage quality of a number of fruits and vegetables.

Stoller solution to regulate ethylene production
One of the unique features of the product . en Hold Plus is that it is able to block ACC production so that less ethylene is produced by the plant. This reduced ethylene formation prevents premature aging, increases the potential productivity of the plant and improves the quality of the end product.

The best effect is obtained by de . of Hold Plus in a schedule of several weeks (3 applications every 7-10 days) so that the plant spends its energy more efficiently on production.