Estimation of ethylene production and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid content in plants by means of gas chromatography

The paper deals with problems associated with preparation and collection of samples when estimating the production of ethylene and content of ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) in plants by means of gas chromatography. A proper method of sampling can significantly influence not only the reliability of obtained data but also their interpretation. Attention was paid to cultivation of plant material, sampling vessels, conditions of ethylene production, sampling procedure, and storage of gaseous samples. The estimation of ACC as a precursor of ethylene is more laborious but it supplements the information about the endogenous level of ethylene in a given part of the plant organism. The authors describe the sampling procedure, methods of sample preservation, extraction and purification, and also the method of oxidation of ACC to ethylene. In the final part of this study the authors evaluate the time consumption and difficulty of individual methods and describe their advantages and disadvantages as compared with other, alternative methods.