The role of ethylene in 2.4-D-induced growth inhibition.

Ethylene and 2.4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.4-D) inhibited the growth of etiolated soybean (Glycine max cv. "Hawkeye") seedlings causing tissue swelling and an increase in RNA, DNA and protein content in the subapical hypocotyl tissue. 2.4-D increased ethylene evolution from soybean seedlings and it was found that some of the effect of this herbicide on soybeans was due to the increased ethylene production.Ethylene is responsible in part for the inhibition of elongation and of increase in weight that occurs at supraoptimal concentrations of 2.4-D applied to excised hypocotyl sections. Abscisic acid inhibits 2.4-D-induced tissue swelling and ethylene production in the excised, elongating section. The cotyledons of the soybean seedlings appear to regulate the 2.4-D-induced production of ethylene and the roots are necessary for the 2.4-D-induced tissue swelling.