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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.

Ethylene, cyanide gas, and volatalized ethanol, acetaldehyde, and acetic acid were applied in a continuous flow to whole potato tubers. Freshly cut slices were obtained periodically during the treatment, and showed a progressive development of a cyanide-resistant respiration. The application of the employed volatiles in 100% O 2 accelerated the onset and the magnitude of the cyanide-resistant respiration. These results show that, similar to ethylene and cyanide, the application of ethanol, acetaldehyde, or acetic acid can also lead to the development of cyanide-resistant respiration in whole potato tubers, and that this type of respiration is retained in freshly cut slices.

Treating intact white potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber with ethylene in air or O(2) made it possible to obtain freshly cut slices which exhibit cyanide-resistant respiration. The cyanide-resistant path requires induction in whole tubers. The data also indicate that high O(2) concentration is necessary for the full development of cyanide-resistant respiration.