Mechanism of Action of Abscission Accelerators

Abscission zone explants of Gossypium hirsutum L., Cassia fistula L., and Coleus blumei Benth. were used to investigate correlations between endogenous rates of ethylene evolution and time of abscission. Additions of 0.1 nl/ml ethylene to the explants markedly accelerated abscission; continuous aeration of the explants, to prevent accumulation of small amounts of endogenously produced ethylene, inhibited abscission compared with that of sealed controls. Substances that stimulated abscission simultaneously accelerated ethylene evolution on all three species and at any position of application. The positional effects of auxin are explained as being due to differences in transport in the explant. Thus, distally applied auxin inhibits abscission, regardless of the accelerated rate of ethylene evolution, by being rapidly transported to the abscission zone. Auxin applied proximally stimulates abscission because it is unable to move as rapidly to the abscission zone and the ethylene effect becomes dominant. Ethylene was found to be most effective on aged tissues, and it is concluded that abscission rates are determined by an increase in sensitivity of the tissue to the ethylene that is already being produced.