Effects of ethephon on aging and photosynthetic activity in isolated chloroplasts.

Chloroplasts, isolated from the primary leaves of 7-day-old seedlings, were incubated in vitro at 25 degrees C with 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethephon) under light (0.16 milliwatts per square centimeter) and dark conditions. Ethephon at 1 micromolar (0.1445 ppm), 0.1 and 1 millimolar, or 5 microliters ethylene promoted the deterioration of chloroplasts, increased proteolysis, and reduced the chlorophyll content and PSI and PSII during 72 hours under both light and dark conditions. The decline in PSI and PSII occurred prior to a measurable loss of chlorophyll. The loss of photosynthetic activity affected by ethephon was initiated prior to 12 hours of incubation. After 24 hours in light, 0.1 millimolar (1.445 ppm) epthephon significantly reduced PSI and PSII and promoted the total free amino acid liberation in isolated chloroplasts. In darkness the rate of loss of PSI activity was about 50% of that in light. After 24 hours, in light at 1 millimolar epthephon, PSII activity was 55% of the control, yet nearly 90% of the chlorophyll remained, which indicates that the loss of thylakoid integrity was promoted by ethephon. Ethylene injected in the chloroplast medium at 5 microliters (0.22 micromolar per milliliter) reduced PSI by nearly 50% of the initial in 12 hours. In leaf sections floated in 5 microliters per milliliter suspension medium, a 36% loss of chlorophyll of the control in 36 hours was observed. Cycloheximide at 0.5 millimolar masked the effect of 1 millimolar ethephon and maintained the initial chlorophyll content during the 72 hour period.