ABSTRACT
Ethylene production is a common response to most stresses, including freezing, chilling, wounding, water, salt, and mineral stress as well as disease and insect attack, and exposure to air polutants toxic chemicals, or herbicides. The amount of stress-induced ethylene production is used to quantify the degree of stress a plant has undergone. Some of the earliest data suggesting ethylene as being involved in stress resistance comes from pathological studies. Its role in disease resistance has been studied for several years, and has been reviewed by T. Boiler. Ethylene is also implicated in the acquisition of resistance to mechanical perturbation. A common response of plants to mechanical stress is a decrease in stem height and an increase in stem diameter. Further evidence for ethylene's role in water stress acclimation may be found in the comparison of drought-induced ethylene production from resistant and sensitive varieties.
