An Indirect Role for Ethylene in Shoot-inversion Release of Apical Dominance in Pharbitis Nil

Evidence is presented which indicated that ethylene does not play a direct role in promoting or inhibiting bud outgrowth as a gravity response. It is concluded that the treatment of inactive or induced lateral buds with ethylene inhibitors or ethrel has no significant effect on bud outgrowth and that no changes occur in ethylene emanation in the Highest Lateral Bud (HLB) or HLB node following shoot inversion. Possible mechanisms by which ethylene released by shoot inversion may indirectly promote outgrowth of the HLB is presented.