Effect of mannose on auxin-induced ethylene production in corn (Zea mays L.) coleoptiles was studied. Auxin induced ethylene production decreased in proportion to mannose concentrations. The inhibitory effect of mannose appeared after 2 h of incubation. Ethylene production was significantly depressed by mannose at high concentration (10-5M-10-4M) of indole acetic acid (IAA), but not at low concentrations (10-8M-10-6M). The inhibition of auxin-induced ethylene production by mannose was specific, since other sugars such as galactose, glucose, sucrose and mannitol did not have an inhibitory effect. In an effort to elucidate mechanisms of mannose the effect on the auxin induced ethylene production, effect of the sugar on ACC synthase activity and ACC induced ethylene production was studied. Mannose failed to inhibit ACC mediated ethylene production, but decreased both the ACC content and ACC synthase activity in the tissue. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of mannose on auxin induced ethylene production results from suppression of auxin induction of ACC synthase.