Effects of Inorganic Cations on Ethephon-induced Increases in Membrane Permeability 1

Abstract

Abstract Treatment of beet root slices (Beta vulgaris L.) with (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon) at 100 ppm increased membrane permeability 7-fold as indicated by betacyanin leakage. Leakage was much greater at higher concentrations of ethephon. Divalent and trivalent cations (Ca++, Mg++, La+++) prevented the effects of ethephon on membrane leakage without altering the rate of ethylene evolution. The monovalent cations (K+, Na+, NH4+) were not effective in relieving the ethephon effect.