An analysis of the role of abscisic acid on the differential expansion and chlorophyll synthesis of the two cotyledons of dormant apple embryo in culture

In dormant embryos of Pyrus malus L. cv. Golden delicious laid flat on water agar and cultured under light, inhibition of growth, chlorophyll synthesis and pro-plastid development in the upper cotyledon was complete, whereas they occurred to a notable degree in the cotyledon in contact with the medium particularly between days 5 and 9 of culture. Radioimmunoassay of endogenous ABA showed a marked difference between the two cotyledons during the first days of culture: on day 2 the level in the upper cotyledon could be 8 times higher than in the lower cotyledon. Experiments using isolated cotyledons showed that this early difference may be responsible for the subsequent divergence in development of the two cotyledons. The effects of exogenous ABA differed depending on the physiological state of the material: when applied at the start of culture ABA inhibited subsequent development, but if applied after 5 days of incubation, when plastid differentiation was already established, ABA no longer prevented growth and only partially inhibited chlorophyll production. The results suggest a direct causal relationship between the levels of endogenous ABA and cotyledon development.