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Genetic Aspects of Abscisic Acid

  • Chapter
A Genetic Approach to Plant Biochemistry

Part of the book series: Plant Gene Research ((GENE))

Abstract

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a naturally occurring plant hormone, probably present in all higher plants. Its discovery in the sixties, and its chemical structure have been described in several reviews (Addicott and Carns, 1983; Milborrow, 1984). ABA may be involved, often as an inhibitor, in many physiological processes such as abscission, bud- and seed dormancy, elongation growth, stomatal opening, root growth, geotropism, fruit ripening and senescence (Walton, 1980; Addicott and Carns, 1983; Milborrow, 1984). In many cases, however, the role of ABA could not be established conclusively, mainly because of the inadequate experimental approaches. In addition, experiments examining the correlation between endogenous ABA levels and physiological effects, or those involving the exogenous application of ABA etc. never provide more than circumstantial evidence, and compartmentation as well as tissue- and time-specific differences in hormone sensitivity complicate the interpretation of results. Methods of manipulating endogenous hormone levels would provide more direct approaches (Karssen, 1982) but specific chemical inhibitors, such as there are for gibberellins, are not known for ABA. The use of isogenic genotypes differing in endogenous ABA content provides plant physiologists with an important tool to elucidate the regulatory function of this compound.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, Agricultural University, 53, Generaal Foulkesweg, NL-6703 BM, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Maarten Koornneef

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  1. Maarten Koornneef
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  1. Friedrich Miescher-Institut, Basel, Switzerland

    Anne D. Blonstein

  2. Friedrich Miescher-Institut, Basel, Switzerland

    Patrick J. King

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Koornneef, M. (1986). Genetic Aspects of Abscisic Acid. In: Blonstein, A.D., King, P.J. (eds) A Genetic Approach to Plant Biochemistry. Plant Gene Research. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6989-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6989-6_2

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