Gene Expression in Response to Ethylene and Wounding

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The objective of this research is to define the nature of hormonal and developmental interactions that regulate ripening of avocado fruit. A hypothesis has been developed that considers the ripening process to consist of phases which are associated with action of the hormone ethylene. These involve: 1) a lag during which the responsiveness of the tissue to ethylene increases, and during which a putative "tree factor" that inhibits ripening of undetached fruit is dissipated; and 2) a period of autocatalytic ethylene production, accompanied by macroscopic changes such as cell wall degradation. This proposal will focus on definition of the regulatory events that produce the tree factor, and result in the ripening lag. The possibility will be explored that the tree factor is auxin or a similar compound. This research may provide useful insight into the interactive roles of hormonal and non.hormonal signals in a major plant developmental process.