Ethylene formation in pea seedlings; its relation to the inhibition of bud growth caused by indole-3-acetic Acid.

Indole-3-acetic acid stimulates ethylene production in the nodal region of pea stems, and the gas inhibits bud growth. At all concentrations of IAA there is a close correlation between the intensity and duration of ethylene production and the bud inhibition which results. Kinetin reverses the inhibitory actions of ethylene and IAA on bud growth. It is concluded that auxins suppress bud development by stimulating ethylene formation. The possibility that auxin induced ethylene formation controls apical dominance is considered.