Characterization of three ethylene receptor genes in Coffea canephora Pierre

The phytohormone ethylene plays a central role in physiological and developmental processes, such as germination, growth, flower initiation, senescence of leaves and flowers, organ abscission, and fruit ripening (Abeles et al., 1992). It is also a major signal, mediating responses to a range of biotic and abiotic stresses. At the level of gene expression, ethylene has been shown to induce transcription of a wide range of genes involved in wound signalling and defense against pathogens. A family of five receptors mediates ethylene perception in Arabidopsis: ETR1, ERS1, ETR2, ERS2, and EIN4 (Hua and Meyerowitz, 1998; Sakai et al., 1998). The ETR1 receptor is a homodimer localized in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane (Chen et al., 2002).