ETHYLENE PRODUCTION AND 1-AMINOCYCLOPROPANE-1-CARBOXYLIC ACID CONTENTOF LICHEN BIONTS

This study reports on ethylene production and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-ca rboxylic acid (ACC) content of isolated lichen bionts (mycobiont and p hotobiont) in comparison with lichen thalli. All bionts investigated s how ethylene producing activity and contain ACC, the ethylene precurso r in higher plants. The level of ACC is nearly identical in the mycobi ont and in the lichen thalli. Ethylene production of bionts was only e nhanced after treatment with ACC while alpha-oxoglutarate a known ethy lene precursor in ascomycetic fungi gives no reaction. The results pre sented here indicate that in the complex system of the lichen thallus both partners are involved in the production of the regulative substan ces and seem to use identical biochemical pathways.