Changes of ACC and MACC levels, ACC synthase activity as well as ethylene production in the leaves of two spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars 8139 (with relatively low drought-resistance) and 504 (with relatively high drought-resistance) during water stress were determined. The levels of ACC and MACC in both cultivars decreased in the first 24 It of water stress and increased in the second 24 It while the activities of ACC synthase increased continuously throughout the entire period of treatment (48 h), As water stress progressed, ethylene production decreased continuously in cv. 8139 but remarkably increased earlier and decreased later in the cv. 504. Moreover, the decrease in RWC of stressed leaves was greater and the changes in ACC and MACC levels as well as ACC synthase activity were higher in the drought-sensitive cv. 8139 than in the drought-resistant cv, 504 during water stress. The levels of ACC and MACC, activities of ACC synthase and productions of ethylene in the stressed leaves in two cultivars were significantly altered by the application of MGBG (an inhibitor of SAMDC) and AOA (an inhibitor of ACC synthase) where their effects on these items were almost opposite. They were increased by the former inhibitor but reduced by the latter. All of these results suggested that the level of ethylene production in plants did not depend on the level of ACC during water stress. The increase in the level of ethylene in the drought-resistant cultivar during the earlier period of water stress might be a phenomenon of adaptation to water stress and be correlated with the development of the drought-tolerance in plants and playing role in the transduction of stress signal. The role of MACC, however, was primarily in the regulation of ethylene production under water stress.
