Cell-free extracts prepared from tomato fruits (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were not capable of catalyzing ethylene production from α-keto-γ-methylthiobutyrate, in the presence of Mn2+, sulfite, and phenol, until an endogenous heat-stable and dializable inhibitor was removed. After its removal, the enzyme-catalyzed formation of ethylene was readily demonstrated. Many of the properties of this tomato enzyme system relevant to ethylene production were found to be similar to those of the horse-radish peroxidase system. © 1969.