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C. E. Palmer, Influence of Ethephon on Nitrate Reductase, Protein Amino Nitrogen and Nitrate Content of Solanum tuberosum L., Plant and Cell Physiology, Volume 26, Issue 3, April 1985, Pages 407–417, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.pcp.a076924
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Abstract
Nitrate reductase activity was stimulated in roots and stems, but suppressed in leaves of potato plants grown in nutrient culture by 30 mg.liter−1 ethephon applied to the culture solution. In stems, nitrate reductase activity was stimulated after 5 h and by 24 h it was more than two fold that of the control. The magnitude of stimulation by ethephon was less in roots compared to stems. Ethephon treatment enhanced ethylene production by roots, stems and leaves but the level of production was not significantly different in these organs. The stimulation of nitrate reductase activity was prevented by cycloheximide and cordycepin suggesting the involvement of new protein synthesis.
Ethephon enhanced TCA precipitable protein levels in both roots and stems while that in leaves was not significantly affected. Amino nitrogen content increased in parallel with protein content in response to ethephon, with roots exhibiting substantial stimulation. Nitrate accumulation in stem tissues was not affected by ethephon treatment but was increased in roots at 24 and 48 h. Leaf NO3 content declined with time in both ethephon-treated and control plants and after 24 h significantly less NO3 accumulated in treated leaves. These results are explained in terms of ethephon stimulated protein synthesis and increase in cellular metabolism and permeability.
