Abstract
Mitochondria from whole potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) ordinarily fail to oxidize respiratory substrates and to consume molecular O(2) in the presence of cyanide. Mitochondrial preparations obtained from tubers previously held for 24 hours in ethylene (10 microliters per liter) in air are only partially inhibited by cyanide. Application of ethylene in 100% O(2) led to an additional increase in the resistance of the mitochondrial respiration to cyanide. The resistance to cyanide was accompanied by a decrease in the respiratory control but no change in oxidative phosphorylation as shown by the measurement of ATP synthesis.The development of resistance to cyanide following the application of ethylene appears to require whole tubers and may represent an inductive process.