Abstract:Ferrous iron might induce ethylene production from rice (Oryza sativa L. ) husk. The induction was a non-enzymic chemical process, in which probably a non-gaseous precursor could be converted to ethylene by the action of Fe2+. Fe2+-stimulated seedling growth was probably mediated by the induced ethylene based on the following evidences: ( Ⅰ ) The induction and the stimulation were synchronous in time within one day only. Once seedling growth was initiated renewal of Fe2+ solution, even on the following day, exerted no more effect neither on ethylene production nor on seedling growth; ( Ⅱ ) Ferrous iron was neither capable to stimulate the ethylene production of rice caryopsis, nor able to stimulate the seedling growth of germinated caryopsis.