Abstract
Effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on ethylene production in tomato(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) hypocotyl segments and fruits were studied. Ethylene production in tomato hypocotyl segments was inhibited by the increasing concentratons of MeJA, and 450 $\mu$M of MeJA showed 50% inhibitory effect. Time course data indicate that this inhibitory effect of MeJA appeared after 3 h of incubation period and continued until 24 h. Inhibition of ethylene producton by MeJA was due to the decrease in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid(ACC) synthase activity. However, MeJA treatment had no effect on ACC oxidase activity and the accumulaton of ACC oxidase mRNAs. MeJA also inhibited auxin-induced ethylene production by decreasing in ACC synthase activity. In contrast, MeJA stimulated ethylene production in tomato fruits. When 30 $\mu$L/mL MeJA was treated in a gaseous state, ethylene production doubled and this stimulating effect continued until 4 days. To investigate the mechanisms of MeJA on ethylene production, ACC synthase and ACC oxidase activities were examined after MeJA treatment. MeJA increased the activities of both ACC synthase and ACC oxidase, and induced ACC oxidase mRNA accumulation. These data suggest that MeJA plays distinct roles in the ethylene production in different tomato tissues. It is possible that MeJA affects differently the mechanisms of signal transuction leading to the ethylene biosynthesis.