METHYL JASMONATE AND BEAN LEAF ABSCISSION

The effect of rac-methyl jasmonate, both in solution and as a vapour, on the separation of pulvinar and petiolar tissues in explants containing the distal abscission zone of primary leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris var. Contender was investigated. The effects of rac-methyl jasmonate were compared to those of (+/-)-abscisic acid, alpha-naphthalene acetic acid, ethylene and 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid. Abscission times were determined in explants prepared from 14-day-old control plants and in explants prepared from plants that had been pretreated for 24h with the ethylene-action inhibitor, silver thiosulphate. While silver-pretreatment, or treatment with a-naphthalene acetic acid delayed abscission, treatment with ethylene or 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid accelerated tissue separation. However, (+/-)-abscisic acid delayed abscission under these conditions. In all instances, treatment with rac-methyl jasmonate had no apparent effect on abscission. The loss of chlorophyll from bean leaf discs incubated in the dark was enhanced by treatment with 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid or (+/-)-abscisic acid and was retarded in discs incubated in benzyl adenine. While incubation in alpha-naphthalene acetic acid was without effect, incubation in solutions of rac-methyl jasmonate also retarded chlorophyll loss when compared to water controls.