The effect of ethylene on [1-¹⁴C]glycerol incorporation into phospholipids of etiolated pea stems

The effect of ethylene (10 p.p.m.) on the rate of incorporation of [1-¹⁴C]glycerol into phospholipids of etiolated pea stems was studied. After 2–3h treatment with ethylene, incorporation was decreased by 50%. It remained at this value for as long as ethylene was supplied (8h). Handling the plants also caused a temporary decrease in incorporation, which we attribute to the production of endogenous ‘wound’ ethylene. The percentage decrease in incorporation was the same in four major phospholipid fractions, i.e. phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol.