Effect of Cold Osmotic Shock on K+ Efflux from Nicotiana tabacum L. Leaf Discs Induced by Abscisic Acid and Ionophores

Cold osmotic shock, i.e., transfer of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacumL. cv. Samsun NN) leaf discs from 0.5 M mannitol at 25°Cto distilled water at 2°C appears to modify the events selectivelyat the plasma membrane of tobacco leaf cells. Especially, theefflux of K+ and ion leakage was markedly increased by coldosmotic shock, which is dependent on both osmotic pressure andthe temperature of the solution bathing the discs; i.e., K+efflux was increased by raising the osmotic pressure of mannitoland further intensified by subsequently lowering the temperature.The shock effects are temporary and disappear 2 to 3 hr afterthe treatment. The efflux of K+ from the discs into the external medium (1mM MES-Tris, pH 6.0) was stimulated by abscisic acid (ABA) andgramicidin S, slightly stimulated by nigericin and slightlyinhibited by kinetin. Valinomycin was insensitive to K+ efflux. ABA-induced stimulation of K+ efflux was inhibited by cold osmoticshock, but not the gramicidin-induced stimulation. The ABA-inducedstimulation was partly inhibited by kinetin, whereas the gramicidin-inducedone was not. The stimulatory effect on K+ efflux was additivewhen ABA and ionophore were added together to the external medium. These results indicate that ABA acts at the plasma membranethat is selectively modified by cold osmotic shock. The stimulationof K+ efflux induced by ABA and ionophore occurs via differentprocesses. (Received December 22, 1980; Accepted May 21, 1981)