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Ethylene Biosynthesis in Soil: II. Kinetics and Thermodynamics in the Conversion of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic Acid to Ethylene¹

ABSTRACT

Kinetic analyses were performed to characterize the conversion of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) to ethylene (C₂H₄) in soils. Application of three linear transformations of the Michaelis-Menten equation indicated that the K_m values varied slightly among soils, but were similar in magnitude. By using the Lineweaver-Burk plot, the K_m values in three soils ranged from 2.7 to 6.1 (avg = 4.8) mM and V_max values ranged from 3.9 to 16.5 mmol of C₂H₄ released kg^–1 soil 48 h^–1. The activation energy (E_a) and enthalpy of activation (H*) values, expressed in kJ mol^–1, ranged from 35.4 to 70.5 (avg = 49.4) and 32.8 to 67.9 (avg = 46.8), respectively. The Q₁₀ values within a temperature range of 5 to 50°C ranged from 1.52 to 2.60. A direct relationship was established between soil pH of 20 unbuffered surface soils and ACC enhanced-C₂H₄ production, but no such relationship was found with any other soil parameter tested including organic C, total N, CEC, and texture. Antibiotic treatments of soils revealed that both fungistatic and bacteriostatic agents were effective in inhibiting (25–82%) ACC derived-C₂H₄ production in soils indicating that both major groups are active C₂H₄ producers.

¹ Contribution of the Dep. of Soil and Environ. Sci., Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521. Presented before Div. S-3, Soil Sci. Soc. Am., Las Vegas, NE. 27 Nov. 1984.

² Assistant Professor of Soil Science and Research Assistant, Univ. of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521.

Received for publication February 4, 1985. Accepted for publication June 14, 1985.