Ethylene

Ethylene is one of several Plant Growth Regulators or PGRs.

Ethylene is present as a gas in every part of the plant. It is only observed at trace levels. Ethylene has been linked to fruit ripening, flower opening, and abscission.

Ethylene is produced organically from an intricate internal process that starts with the amino acid Methionine. Methionine is synthesized internally from the amino acids Cysteine and Aspartic Acid. Methionine is eventually converted into ACC (or 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic-acid) by the enzyme ACS or ACC-synthase. ACS synthesis increases with the introduction of Auxins and Cytokinins, specifically IAA, or Indole-3-Acetic Acid. With the increase of ACS comes the increase of Ethylene gas within the plant.

Antagonists
A known antagonist of ACS is Abscisic Acid, or ABA.

While Ethylene has several functions within plants, one of the most universally recognized is its effect on senescence (aging) within plants.

PhytoTech Products
L-Cysteine is available from PhytoTechnology Laboratories as Product Number C204.

L-Aspartic Acid is available from PhytoTechnology Laboratories as Product Number A117.

Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) is available from PhytoTechnology Laboratories as Product number I885.

Abscisic Acid (ABA) is available from PhytoTechnology Laboratories as Product Number A102.