Antiethylene properties of silver thiosulphate in mung bean are lost in the dark

Silver thiosulphate (STS) inhibited ethylene-induced leaf abscission from mung bean cuttings in the light but was completely inactive on cutting aged for 2 days in the dark. In the absence of ethephon, STS did not inhibit dark-induced leaf abscission, but when the leaf blades were removed, it inhibited abscission of the debladed petioles. These results are identical with those obtained using AgNO₃ and indicate that the loss of antiethylene activity of the silver ion in the dark is not dependent on the anion or on unrelated reactions induced by AgNO₃.