The identification of ethylene oxide as a major metabolite of ethylene in Vicia faba L

Abstract

Ethylene oxide has been positively identified as a metabolite of ethylene in developing cotyledons of broad bean by co-chromatography with the authentic compound and by mass spectrometry. In excess of 95% of applied [ 14 C]ethylene (3 μl/l) was metabolized in less than 2 h with 85-95% of the 14 C appearing in ethylene oxide. The metabolism is a property of the tissue and is not due to either micro-organisms or wounding.