Abscisic acid accumulation in spinach leaf slices in the presence of penetrating and nonpenetrating solutes
Abscisic acid (ABA) accumulated in detached, wilted leaves of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. cv Savoy Hybrid 612) and reached a maximum level within 3 to 4 hours. The increase in ABA over that found in detached turgid leaves was approximately 10-fold. The effects of water stress could be mimicked by the use of thin slices of spinach leaves incubated in the presence of 0.6 molar mannitol, a compound which causes plasmolysis (loss of turgor). When spinach leaf slices were incubated with ethylene glycol, a compound which rapidly penetrates the cell membrane causing a decrease in the osmotic potential of the tissue and only transient loss of turgor, no ABA accumulated. Spinach leaf slices incubated in both ethylene glycol and mannitol had ABA levels similar to those found when slices were incubated with mannitol alone. Increases similar to those found with mannitol also occurred when Aquacide III, a highly purified form of polyethylene glycol, was used. When spinach leaf slices were incubated with solutes which are supposed to disturb membrane integrity no increase in ABA was observed. These data indicate that, with respect to the accumulation of ABA, mannitol caused a physical stress rather than a chemical stress.
- Research Organization:
- Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76ER01338
- OSTI ID:
- 5818104
- Journal Information:
- Plant Physiol.; (United States), Vol. 77:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Abscisic acid metabolism in relation to water stress and leaf age in Xanthium strumarium
Influence of chilling and drought on water relations and abscisic acid accumulation in bean