Ethylenabhängige Wachstums- und Entwicklungsprozesse bei Stecklingen der Brunnenkresse (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.)

Ethylene promotes shoot formation from buds and restricts adventitous root formation in cuttings of the water cress. The ethylene effects are counteracted by silver ions but not by cobalt ions in the presence of ethylene. Flooding or submergence of cuttings mimics the ethylene mediated growth processes. The internal atmosphere of submerged plant tissues is enriched in ethylene. Despite the limited development of the adventitous root system, plantlets regenerate to independent plants within a few days. This behaviour can be interpreted as an adaptive strategy to periodical flooding as occurs in the natural habitats such as small, fast moving rivers.