PLANT GROWTH REGULATION BY STIMULATION OF ETHYLENE PRODUCTION

A wide variety of plant responses to synthetic growth regulators may be achieved through the chemical stimulation of ethylene production within the plant tissues. The compound 66-329, a growth regulator, produces varied responses In plants such as flowering in pineapple, epinastic responses, Inhibition of terminal bud growth, stimulation of lateral bud growth, Initiation of root primordta and abscission of leaves (Amchem Products Inc., 1967). Each of .these responses could be a consequence of the stimulation of ethylene production, as Is apparently the case for the swelling response of peas.