K. Grossmann, A ROLE FOR CYANIDE, DERIVED FROM ETHYLENE BIOSYNTHESIS, IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRESS SYMPTOMS, Physiologia Plantarum, 97(4), 1996, pp. 772-775
Cyanide is formed as a co-product of ethylene during the oxidation of
1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) catalyzed by ACC oxidase.
A toxic or regulatory function for cyanide in plant metabolism remains
controversial. However, recent studies on the mode of action of auxin
herbicides in sensitive plants suggest that the accumulation of tissu
e cyanide, derived ultimately from herbicide-stimulated ACC synthesis,
is implicated in the induction of herbicide phytotoxicity. Furthermor
e, increases in cyanide levels have been observed during the formation
of necrotic lesions in tobacco mosaic virus-infected tobacco leaves.
It thus appears worthwhile to elucidate in more detail a possible role
for cyanide in the induction of cell death under stress conditions wh
ich coincide with a strong stimulation of ethylene biosynthesis.