Emission of Ethylene and Ethane by Leaf Tissue Exposed to Injurious Concentrations of Sulfur Dioxide or Bisulfite Ion

Abstract

Leaf tissues injured with SO(2) gas or bisulfite ion in solution emit ethylene and ethane. The amounts of these gases produced by the tissues depend on the degree of exposure to SO(2) or bisulfite. The amount of ethylene produced in response to SO(2) fumigation correlates positively with SO(2) exposure (0 to 5.5 microliters per liter for 16 hours), SO(2) absorbed, and the amount of visible injury sustained by the leaf tissues. Ethane production is correlated positively with the injury resulting from treatment with bisulfite ion. The rate of emission of ethane from leaf discs of cucurbit cultivars as a result of exposure to bisulfite solutions is in agreement with the order and the degree of their resistance to injury by SO(2). Thus, exposure to bisulfite and the subsequent release of ethane can be used to determine the relative resistance of different species and cultivars to SO(2) gas.A rapid, simple, objective assay for SO(2) resistance based on ethane emission is described. This assay should preferentially detect SO(2) resistance which does not depend on stomatal behavior. The screening of several other cucurbits with this assay showed a 24-fold difference between the most and the least sensitive plants tested.

Ethylene produced by the lichen Cladina stellaris exposed to sulphur and heavy‐metal‐containing solutions under acidic conditions

“…There are many reports of ethylene produced by plants exposed to SO # gas, bisulphite ions, simulated acidic rain (Bressan et al, 1979 ;Larsen, 1986 ;Zwoch, Knorre & Schaub, 1990 ;Hohendorff & Vogels, 1990) and heavy metals (Ben-Yehoshua & Biggs, 1970 ;Mattoo, Baker & Moline, 1986 ;Kao, 1996). Extensive research into the production of ethylene in freeliving or mycorrhizal fungi was performed by Lynch & Harper (1974), Ward Turner & Osborne (1978) and Wilkes, Dale & Old (1989).…”

Inhibition of Photosystem II Precedes Thylakoid Membrane Lipid Peroxidation in Bisulfite-Treated Leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris

“…It has been shown previously that there is no significant transfer of energy from diphenylhexatriene to chloroplast pigments, which could confound measurements of polarization (19). Following treatment with bisulfite, the polarization values for thylakoid membranes rose from 0.185 to 0.320, whereas treatment with bisulfate resulted in only a small increase to 0.204 (Table IV) Measurements of ethane production provide a nondestructive, in vivo monitor of lipid peroxidation (8,24,25). With a view to confirming the results ofthe fatty acid analyses, ethane production from leaf discs was measured immediately after a 2 h treatment in light or darkness with bisulfite or bisulfate as well as during a subsequent 24 h incubation in light or darkness on distilled water.…”

“…(sulfite), and 02-(superoxide), are thought to be generated (14,26), although recent spin-trapping evidence suggests that S03-is more important than 02-in the propagation of chloroplast-initiated oxidation of the sulfite ion (1 1). The free radicals generated are thought to be responsible for the observed peroxidation ofthylakoid lipids exposed to sulfite (17).Several studies, considered together, implicate thylakoid membrane lipid peroxidation in S02-induced injury to plants (3,8,16,24,25). In particular, there are several reports that exposure to SO2 or bisulfite results in inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport, which could clearly be a consequence of lipid peroxidation in thylakoids (12,28,29).…”

“…Several studies, considered together, implicate thylakoid membrane lipid peroxidation in S02-induced injury to plants (3,8,16,24,25). In particular, there are several reports that exposure to SO2 or bisulfite results in inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport, which could clearly be a consequence of lipid peroxidation in thylakoids (12,28,29).…”

“…Indeed, there is considerable evidence that sulfur dioxide damages plant membranes by facilitating free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation (8,24). The oxidation of sulfur dioxide in solution (as sulfite) is known to occur by a chain reaction that can be initiated by a variety of free radical-generating agents including illuminated chloroplasts (3,26).…”