To explore the role of ethylene in sexual determination in ramie, the ethylene release rates in ramie stem apex of different sex, bud of the same node in female and hermaphrodite ramie in the second crop, and single inflorescence of different sex in hermaphrodite ramie were measured by gas chromatography. Effects of two ethylene inhibitors on sex expression in ramie were investigated. The ethylene release rate of stem apex was higher in the second crop or female ramie than that in the third crop or hermaphrodite ramie during growth. Although ethylene release rates between lower nodes and higher nodes were little different, it was lower in the middle nodes in hermaphrodite ramie. The ethylene release rates were higher in the higher nodes of female ramie at the second crop. At the third crop, the ethylene release rates were higher in lower nodes, lower in middle nodes and then highest in higher nodes in female ramie. However, an opposite ethylene release pattern was observed in hermaphrodite ramie. The ethylene release rate was higher in female flower than male flower and mixed inflorescence in hermaphrodite ramie. The male flower could be distinctly induced by AVG （aminooethoxyvinylglycine）. The node of the first male flower, percentage of female flowers and ratio of female flowers to male in ramie were evidently depressed by AVG in contrast to water. The percentage of mixed male and female flowers was also increased and the percentage of female flower decreased by spraying AgNO3. There was a close relationship between sexual differentiation and ethylene release rate in ramie. The female ramie could be induced by high ethylene release rate. The female flower could be inhibited by AVG and AgNO3. AVG at a concentration of 300 mg L^-1 was most effective.
