Herbicide-Induced Ethylene Production: Role of the Gas in Sublethal Doses of 2,4-D

Ethylene production was stimulated by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from light-grown corn ( Zea mays L., var. XL-15) and soybeans ( Glycine max Merr., var. Hawkeye). Ethylene had an inhibitory effect on the growth of corn and soybeans, but a reversal of the ethylene effect could not be clearly demonstrated using the competitive inhibitor, carbon dioxide. Ethylene did not mimic the ability of 2,4-D to cause growth curvatures. It was concluded that ethylene played a role in the activity of sublethal amounts of 2,4-D.