Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Utilizing the Ethylene-releasing Compound, 2-Chloroethylphosphonic Acid, as a Tool to Study Ethylene Response in Bacteria
Published on: November 10, 2016
The Pivotal Role of Ethylene in Plant Growth
Marieke Dubois1, Lisa Van den Broeck2, Dirk Inzé2
1Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; Present address: Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
Abstract:
Being continuously exposed to variable environmental conditions, plants produce phytohormones to react quickly and specifically to these changes. The phytohormone ethylene is produced in response to multiple stresses. While the role of ethylene in defense responses to pathogens is widely recognized, recent studies in arabidopsis and crop species highlight an emerging key role for ethylene in the regulation of organ growth and yield under abiotic stress. Molecular connections between ethylene and growth-regulatory pathways have been uncovered, and altering the expression of ethylene response factors (ERFs) provides a new strategy for targeted ethylene-response engineering. Crops with optimized ethylene responses show improved growth in the field, opening new windows for future crop improvement. This review focuses on how ethylene regulates shoot growth, with an emphasis on leaves.
Related Concept Videos
Meristems and Plant Growth
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
Plant Hormones
Pivot Bearings
A pivot bearing is a specialized type of bearing designed to support axial loads on a rotating shaft. The bearing surface, or the pivot, is positioned at the end of a shaft to support the axial thrust. The pivot may...
Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors
Thrombopoietin (TPO), mainly released by the liver,...
Plant Tissue Culture

