Abscission: the role of aging

Excision of Phaseolus vulgaris L. c.v. Red Kidney abscission zone explants results in senescence, mobilization, and abscission. Because these processes take place at about the same time, there has been some question as to whether they are causally related or are occurring in an independent but simultaneous fashion. Data presented here suggest that the latter interpretation is correct. After abscission zone explants are isolated from the leaf an aging process is set into motion and a degradation of metabolites in the pulvinus takes place. During the aging process the explants also become increasingly sensitive to ethylene which in turn promotes cell separation. Indoleacetic acid, cytokinins, and coumarin appear to retard aging since both degradative processes and abscission are inhibited. However, ethylene increased abscission without increasing degradative processes indicating that abscission and senescence are independent processes occurring at the same time.