The effects of light on the regulation of ethylene biosynthesis during development of mung bean seedlings were investigated by monitoring the differential expression of seven 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylate (ACC) synthase and two ACC oxidase genes. Among them, only the expression of VR-ACS1, VR-ACS6, VR-ACS7, VR-ACO1 and VR-AC02 was observable in etiolated mung bean hypocotyls. When the seedlings were de-etiolated for 1 d under a light/dark cycle of 16 h/8 h, the expression of VR-ACS6, VR-ACS7 and VR-ACO2 was controlled negatively by light. The expression of VR-ACS1 showed a tendency to increase until 6 h after a dark-to-light transition and then decreased at 12 h. On the other hand, the expression of VR-ACO1 was mostly constitutive up to 12 h after the dark-to-light transition. The opening of hypocotyl hooks during de-etiolation in the light was stimulated by the inhibition of the action of endogenous ethylene in the presence of 1-MCP. These results suggest that the negative regulation of light on the expression of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase genes eventually results in the inhibition of ethylene production with an acceleration of the opening of apical hooks.