Abscisic Acid and its relationship to seed filling in soybeans

The effect of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) on the rate of sucrose uptake by soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) embryos was evaluated in an in vitro system. In addition, the concentrations of endogenous ABA in seeds of three soybean Plant Introduction (PI) lines, differing in seed size, were commpared to their seed growth rates. ABA (10⁻⁷ molar) stimulated in vitro sucrose uptake in soybean (cv `Clay') embryos removed from plants grown in a controlled environment chamber, but not in embryos removed from field-grown plants of the three PI lines. However, the concentration of ABA in seeds of the three field-grown PI lines correlated well with their in situ seed growth rates and in vitro [¹⁴C] sucrose uptake rates.

Across genotypes, the concentration of ABA in seeds peaked at 8.5 micrograms per gram fresh weight, corresponding to the time of most rapid seed growth rate, and declined to 1.2 micrograms per gram at physiological maturity. Seeds of the large-seeded genotype maintained an ABA concentration at least 50% greater than that of the small-seeded genotype throughout the latter half of seed filling. A higher concentration of ABA was found in seed coats and cotyledons than in embryonic axes. Seed coats of the large-seeded genotype always had a higher concentration of ABA than seed coats of the small-seeded line. It is suggested that this higher concentration of ABA in seed coats of the large-seeded genotype stimulates sucrose unloading into the seed coat apoplast and that ABA in cotyledons may enhance sucrose uptake by the cotyledons.

     

珍稀濒危植物珙桐种子休眠萌发过程中内源激素的变化

珙桐是我国特有珍稀濒危植物,休眠期长且具二次休眠现象。将处于休眠萌发过程中的珙桐种子依据胚根长度划分为4个阶段,利用高效液相色谱(HPLC)测定各阶段种子及其内果皮中ABA(脱落酸)、GA(赤霉素)、KT(细胞分裂素)、IAA(3-吲哚乙酸)4种内源激素含量,分析其比值动态变化,并与幼苗阶段进行比较。结果显示:未破壳种子的内果皮中内源激素含量以ABA最高,其次是GA、IAA、KT,随着种子破壳后四种激素含量显著降低。除ABA外,种子中GA、IAA和KT含量随着胚根的伸长逐渐升高,但仍低于幼苗阶段。此外,随着胚根伸长,种子中GA/ABA、IAA/ABA、KT/ABA比值逐渐增大,其中以GA/ABA的变化最显著。因此,珙桐种子的休眠和萌发可能主要受ABA和GA的平衡和拮抗来调控。     

Allene Oxide Synthase and Allene Oxide Cyclase,Enzymes of the Jasmonic Acid Pathway,Localized in Glycine max Tissues

Because jasmonic acid regulates a number of processes, including the expression of vegetative storage proteins in soybean (Glycine max L.) leaves, the relative activity of a specific portion of the jasmonic acid biosynthetic pathway in soybean tissues was examined. Allene oxide synthase and allene oxide cyclase were examined because they constitute a branch point leading specifically from 13(S)-hydroperoxy-9(Z), 11(E), 15(Z)-octadecatrienoic acid to 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid, the precursor of jasmonic acid. From growing plants, seed coats (hila plus testae) of green fruits (38 d post-anthesis) were most active, eliciting about 1.5 times greater activity on a per milligram of protein basis than the next most active tissue, which was the pericarp. Leaves from fruiting plants were only one-seventh as active as seed coats, and activities in both immature cotyledons and embryonic axes were very low. No activity was detected in any part of stored, mature seeds. After 72 h of germination of stored seeds, a small amount of activity, about 4% of that in immature seed coats, was found in the plumule-hypocotyl-root, and no activity was detected in the cotyledons. The high levels of jasmonic acid biosynthetic enzymes in soybean pericarp and seed coat suggest a role for jasmonic acid in the transfer of assimilate to seeds.     

脱落酸引发对夜香紫罗兰种子萌发的效应

研究脱落酸引发及其与植物生长调节剂的复合处理对夜香紫罗兰(Matthiola bicornis)种子萌发的效应.结果表明,将夜香紫罗兰种子于20℃下在2.5×10-5 mol/L脱落酸(ABA)溶液中引发7 d,能显著缩短种子平均萌发时间,增加种子萌发指数.在ABA溶液中加入吲哚乙酸(NAA)未能进一步改善夜香紫罗兰种子萌发,但其他复合处理均显著提高正常幼苗百分率.ABA和细胞分裂素(KT)及NAA复合处理进一步增加种子萌发指数,不仅比单独用ABA引发的效果好,而且也比用聚乙二醇(PEG)引发的效果好.ABA引发和PEG引发的夜香紫罗兰种子相对吸水量显著不同.对ABA引发机理和应用潜力进行了讨论.     

Photoperiodically Induced Changes in Seed Growth Rate of Soybean as Related to Endogenous Concentrations of ABA and Sucrose in Seed Tissues

Short-day photoperiods can increase the partitioning of assimilatesto filling seeds of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), resultingin higher seed growth rates. The plant growth substance ABAhas been implicated in the regulation of assimilate transferwithin filling soybean seeds. Thus, we hypothesized that anincreased concentration of endogenous ABA in seeds may enhancesucrose accumulation and seed growth rate of soybeans exposedto short-day photoperiods. Plants of cv. Hood 75 were grownin a greenhouse under an 8-h short-day photoperiod (SD) until11 d after anthesis (DAA) of the first flower, when half ofthe plants were transferred to a night-interruption (NI) treatment(3 h of low-intensity light inserted into the middle of thedark period). Plants remaining in SD throughout seed developmenthad seed growth rates 43% higher than that of plants shiftedto NI (7·6 mg seed^–1 d^–1 vs. 5·3 mgseed^–1 d^–1). On a tissue-water basis, the concentrationof ABA in SD seeds increased rapidly from 7.6 µmol l^–1at 11 DAA to 65·2 µmol l^–1 at 18 DAA, butthen declined to 6·6 µmol l^–1 by 39 DAA.In contrast, the concentration of ABA increased more slowlyin NI seeds, reaching only 47·4 µmol l^–1by 18 DAA, peaking at 57·0 µmol l^–1 on 25DAA, and declining to 10·2 µmol l^–1 by 39DAA. The concentration of sucrose in SD embryos peaked at 73·5mmol l^–1 on 25 DAA and remained relatively constant forthe remainder of the seed-filling period. In NI, the concentrationof sucrose reached only 38·3 mmol 1^–1 by 25 DAA,and peaked at 61·5 µmol l^–1 on 32 DAA. Thusin both SD and NI, sucrose accumulated in embryos only afterthe peak in ABA concentration, suggesting that ABA may havestimulated sucrose movement to the seeds. The earlier accumulationof ABA and sucrose in SD suggests that ABA may have increasedassimilate availability during the critical cell-division period,thus regulating cotyledon cell number and subsequent seed growthrate for the remainder of the seed-filling period. Glycine max L. Merr. cv. Hood 75, soybean, assimilate partitioning, abscisic acid, photoperiod, source-sink     

Dynamics of Water and Abscisic Acid During Embryogeny and Embryo Drying in the Recalcitrant Seeds of Vateria indica L.

Vateria indica L. is a critically endangered tree species in South-Western Ghats of India, commercially exploited for its valuable resins. Seed recalcitrance is a major problem hindering the natural regeneration of this species and it poses a great challenge in seed storage and conservation. There was a continuous import of water from the maternal tissues to seed tissues till maturity and the seeds were released in a fully hydrated state. Differential accumulation of water has been noticed in the cotyledons and embryonal axis. There was a positive correlation between seed moisture content and rate of germination which is a character of recalcitrant seeds. The critical moisture content was found to be 40% in the axis and 23.5% in the cotyledons, below which the embryo will not germinate. Loss of germination ability as a result of desiccation was attributed to the cell membrane damage, expressed as the electrolyte leakage exceeding 0.79 μS/cm. ABA peaked in the mid embryogenesis, then dropped drastically and maintained a lower level till seed maturity. On desiccation, ABA started to increase but gradually dropped down. Both cotyledons and embryonal axis had differential ABA content but exhibited a general pattern of ABA level during embryogeny. Due to the thin seed coat/embryo ratio and low investment in the seed coat, this recalcitrant seed could not hold water as efficient as orthodox seeds. Thus, it germinated as soon as it was shed from the mother plant. On desiccation, ABA shot up and moisture content decreased along with electrolyte leakage and cell membrane damage. All these hindered germination of the seed. Thus, we can see a clear interplay between moisture content and ABA levels during embryogeny and desiccation. Since the seed biology of this species has not been well documented, the present work is mainly intended to study the dynamics of water and ABA during embryogeny and embryo drying. This study can surely contribute to the long-term storage and conservation of recalcitrant seeds which is a less explored area.

     

Effect of ABA on the Activity of Mitochondrial Membrane Bound Na+-K+ ATPase

Effect of ABA on the activity of mitochondrial membrane bound Na+-K+ATPase during isolation of mitochondria from soybean cotyledons, there was an increased activity of the mitochondrial membrane bound Na+-K+ATPase if abscisic acid (ABA) was added to the medium when soybean seedling were grown at 27 ℃ or 16℃, 40 mol/L ABA could change the turning point temperature of Arrhenius the activation energies (Ea) of Na+-K+ATPase from 36.6℃ or 22.7℃ decreased to 30. 3℃ or 17.8℃ respectively. The Km value and S0.5 value for this enzyme with ABA was higher than that without ABA. Hill coefficient (n) of this enzyme with ABA was 1.01 and without ABA was 1.89. The o2 uptake of mitochondria also increased. These results showed that the temperature of phase transition of mitochondrial membrane were decreased by ABA treatment.     

赤霉素与脱落酸对番茄种子萌发中细胞周期的调控

利用细胞流检仪检测番茄（Ｌｙｃｏｐｅｒｓｉｃｏｎ ｅｓｃｕｌｅｎｔｕｍ Ｍｉｌｌ．） ＧＡ－缺陷型、ＡＢＡ－缺陷型和相应的正常品种（野生型）成熟种子胚根尖细胞倍性水平时发现：ＧＡ－缺陷型和野生型种子绝大多数细胞ＤＮＡ 水平为２Ｃ,而ＡＢＡ－缺陷型种子则含有较多的４Ｃ细胞。在标准发芽条件下,ＡＢＡ－缺陷型和野生型种子浸种１ ｄ 后胚根尖细胞ＤＮＡ 开始复制,随后胚根突破种皮而发芽。然而ＧＡ－缺陷型种子除非加入外源ＧＡ,否则既不发生细胞ＤＮＡ 复制,也不发芽。这说明内源ＧＡ 是启动番茄种子胚根尖细胞ＤＮＡ 复制的关键因素,同时也说明番茄根尖细胞ＤＮＡ 复制是种子发芽的必要条件。实验证明：ＡＢＡ 不抑制细胞ＤＮＡ 合成,但阻止Ｇ２ 细胞进入到Ｍ 期。外源ＡＢＡ处理野生型种子与渗控处理结果相似,可以大幅度提高胚根尖４Ｃ／２Ｃ细胞的比例,但抑制种子的最终发芽     

Abscisic acid in the thermoinhibition of lettuce seed germination and enhancement of its catabolism by gibberellin

Germination of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. 'Grand Rapids') seeds was inhibited at high temperatures (thermoinhibition). Thermoinhibition at 28 degrees C was prevented by the application of fluridone, an inhibitor of abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. At 33 degrees C, the sensitivity of the seeds to ABA increased, and fluridone on its own was no longer effective. However, a combined application of fluridone and gibberellic acid (GA3) was able to restore the germination. Exogenous GA3 lowered endogenous ABA content in the seeds, enhancing catabolism of ABA and export of the catabolites from the intact seeds. The fluridone application also decreased the ABA content. Consequently, the combined application of fluridone and GA3 decreased the ABA content to a sufficiently low level to allow germination at 33 degrees C. There was no significant temperature-dependent change in endogenous GA1 contents. It is concluded that ABA is an important factor in the regulation of thermoinhibition of lettuce seed germination, and that GA affects the temperature responsiveness of the seeds through ABA metabolism.     

外源脱落酸和马来酰肼对杂交水稻F1穗上种子发芽的抑制效应

杂交稻F1齐穗后21 d(灌浆期)施用ABA 1000mg/L或MH 4000 mg/L,可以抑制穗芽的发生,降低种子活力.ABA处理F1发芽种子使GA1含量下降,淀粉酶活性表达滞后,活性下降,有效发芽期延长;MH处理没有引起F1发芽种子GA1含量与淀粉酶活性下降,但使未发芽种子中GA1与淀粉酶活性明显下降,并丧失发芽能力.因此,ABA对杂交稻F1穗芽的抑制作用可视为"后熟效应",而MH对穗芽的抑制作用可视为"遏制作用".     

Turgor-dependent unloading of assimilates from coats of developing legume seed. Assessment of the significance of the phenomenon in the whole plant

The in vivo significance of turgor-dependent unloading was evaluated by examining assimilate transport to and within intact developing seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris (cv. Redland Pioneer) and Vicia faba (cv. Coles Prolific). The osmotic potentials of the seed apoplast were low. As a result, the osmotic gradients to the seed coat symplast were relatively small (i.e. 0.1 to 0.3 MPa). Sap concentrations of sucrose and potassium in the seed apoplast and coat symplast accounted for some 45 to 60% of the osmotic potentials of these compartments. Estimated turnover times of potassium and sucrose in the seed apoplast of < 1 h were some 5 to 13 times faster than the respective turnover times in the coat symplast pools. The small osmotic gradient between the seed apoplast and coat symplast combined with the relatively rapid turnover of solutes in the apoplast pool, confers the potential for a small change in assimilate uptake by the cotyledons to be rapidly translated into an amplified shift in the cell turgor of the seed coat. Observed adjustments in the osmotic potentials of solutions infused between the coat and cotyledons of intact seed were consistent with the in vivo operation of turgor-dependent unloading of solutes from the coat. Homeostatic regulation of turgor-dependent unloading was indicated by the maintenance of apoplast osmotic potentials of intact seeds when assimilate balance was manipulated by partial defoliation or elevating pod temperature. In contrast, osmotic potentials of the coat symplast adjusted upward to new steady values over a 2 to 4 h period. The resultant downward shift in coat cell turgor could serve to integrate phloem import into the seed coat with the new rates of efflux to the seed apoplast. Circumstantial evidence for this linkage was suggested by the approximate coincidence of the turgor changes with those in stem levels of ³²P used to monitor phloem transport. The results obtained provide qualified support for the in vivo operation of a turgor homeostat mechanism. It is proposed that the homeostat functions to integrate assimilate demand by the cotyledons with efflux from and phloem import into the coats of developing legume seed.     

Abscisic Acid Levels in Soybean Reproductive Structures during Development

Abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations and growth rates of developing soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv. Wye) seeds and pod walls were determined from anthesis to maturation using high pressure liquid chromatographic techniques. Developing soybean seeds contain up to 12,200 ng/g fresh weight of ABA compared to 330 ng/g fresh weight for pod walls. In the developing seeds ABA levels correlated with growth rates, being the highest during the most active growth period of seed enlargement, and then decreasing to less than 10 ng/g fresh weight at maturity. Higher levels of ABA were found to occur in the cotyledons and seed coats than the root-shoot axes at 21 days postanthesis. The time required for excised root-shoot axes to initiate growth in liquid culture decreased as seed development progressed and ABA levels of the seeds declined.     

Controlling seed development and seed size in Vicia faba: a role for seed coat-associated invertases and carbohydrate state

We previously provided evidence that seed coat-associated invertase is involved in controlling the carbohydrate state of developing seeds and, by this way, triggering developmental processes (Weber et al . (1995) Plant Cell , 7, 1835–1846). To verify our postulate, we compared seed development of two genotypes of Vicia faba differing in seed weight. The seed coat of the large-seeded genotype formed a higher number of parenchymatous cell layers and matured later. VfCWINV1 encoding a cell wall-bound invertase is expressed in the unloading zone of the seed coat. mRNA levels peaked later in 'large' coats and mRNA was present in more cell layers over a longer time period. Cell wall-bound invertase activity revealed a similar accumulation pattern, obviously generating the high hexose conditions present in the endospermal cavity bathing the premature cotyledons and thus controlling their carbohydrate state. High hexose conditions were correlated with an extended mitotic activity of the 'large' cotyledons. In 'large' and 'small' cotyledons, sucrose levels rose when hexoses decreased apparently terminating cell divisions and initiating differentiation and storage activities. This developmental switch was delayed in 'large' embryos. To prove the outlined relationship, sucrose was added in vitro to mitotically active cotyledons. This treatment favoured nuclear expansion and starch accumulation over cell division. In contrast, a hexose-based medium maintained cell divisions. We conclude that development of the embryo is coordinately regulated with that of the maternal seed coat which controls, by metabolic signals, the phase of cell division of the embryo and consequently also seed size.     

Sugar accumulation in growing subhooks of etiolated Pisum sativum seedlings - Stimulation of sugar exudation and invertase activity in epicotyls by gibberellic acid

The epicotyl of 5-day-old derooted cuttings of pea ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) with and without cotyledons exuded sucrose and glucose in the presence of EDTA. The amount of sugars exuded was greatly affected by the position at which the epicotyl was cut. The largest amount of sugars was exuded when the epicotyl was cut 2 mm below the hook, leaving the growing subhook. Gibberellic acid (GA) substantially increased the amount of sugars exuded from the epicotyl in the presence of cotyledons but only slightly in their absence. GA stimulated sugar exudation from the cotyledonary node as well as from the epicotyl. In cuttings with cotyledons, GA enhanced invertase activity in the apoplast, and in the intraceUular soluble and bound fractions in the growing subhook. In decotylized cuttings, GA enhanced only soluble invertase activity. GA did not affect invertase activity in the epicotyl below the subhook. These results suggest that GA stimulates sugar accumulation in the growing subhook by stimulating not only phloem loading of sucrose in the cotyledons but also unloading in the subhook.     

Differential response of carbon and nitrogen metabolism to fluoride application in fruiting structures of chickpea (Cicer arietinum)

The effect of sodium fluoride (10 and 50 mol·m⁻³) on the activities of sucrose metabolizing enzymes, transaminases and glutamine synthetase in relation to the transformation of free sugars to starch and protein in the fruiting structures (pod wall, seed coat, cotyledons) of chickpea was studied by culturing detached reproductive shoots in a liquid medium. Addition of fluoride to the culture medium drastically reduced starch content of the cotyledons and caused a marked build-up of total free sugars comprised mainly of reducing sugars in the pod wall and seed coat, and sucrose in the cotyledons. Concomitantly, the activity of soluble invertase was stimulated in the pod wall but reduced in the cotyledons. However, soluble protein content of both the pod wall and the cotyledons increased in conjunction with an increase in the activities of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase and glutamine synthetase. Disruption of starch biosynthesis under the influence of fluoride and the resulting accumulation of free sugars possibly resulted in their favoured utilization in nitrogen metabolism. Labelling studies with [U-¹⁴C]-sucrose showed that the ¹⁴C incorporation into total free sugars was enhanced by fluoride in the pod wall but reduced in the seed coat and cotyledons, possibly due to an inhibitory effect on their translocation to the developing seeds.     

Abscisic acid in dormant apple seed tissues - a rapid purification scheme using pre-packed columns and GCMS-SIM quantitation

A rapid small scale procedure has been developed for quantitative abscisic acid (ABA) determination by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoping (GCMS-SIM). Extracts of apple seeds ( Malus domestica cv. Northern Spy) were passed first through 3 ml C₁₈ columns, and then through 3 ml silica gel columns. GCMS-SIM quantitation of ABA was done by adding an internal standard, hexadeuterated ABA. Ten sample extracts could be purified and analyzed by GCMS in 5 to 6 h, offering a quick and precise method to laboratories equipped with GC-MS instrumentation. The endosperm membrane and seed coat of apple seeds contained 2.5-3 times the ABA concentration found in the embryonic axis and cotyledons, supporting the hypothesis that it may be the ABA content of the membrane and seed coat that explains their inhibitory qualities with respect to seed germination.     

Seed growth rate in grain legumes I. Effect of photoassimilate availability on seed growth rate

The dry weight of harvested grain legume seeds is strongly related to their growth rate during the period of storage accumulation in the cotyledons, which begins approximately at the end of embryo cell division. Depodding, defoliation, shading or changes in air CO2 concentration were applied during seed filling (i.e. during the decrease in seed water concentration) to field and glasshouse-grown plants, in order to affect the source-sink ratio. The experiments involved three legume species, namely pea (Pisum sativum L.), soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.). Some treatments affected the number of abortions of less developed seeds from younger pods, but they did not significantly affect the number or the growth rate of filling seeds, demonstrating the priority of carbohydrate partitioning to filling seeds. The maximum growth rate of seeds was achieved regardless of the intra-plant competition level, and the duration of seed growth was shortened if the photosynthetic activity was not sufficient to fulfil the assimilate demand of filling seeds.     

Relationship of endogenous abscisic Acid to sucrose level and seed growth rate of soybeans

It has been proposed that abscisic acid (ABA) may stimulate sucrose transport into filling seeds of legumes, potentially regulating seed growth rate. The objective of this study was to determine whether the rate of dry matter accumulation in seeds of soybeans (Glycine max L.) is correlated with the endogenous levels of ABA and sucrose in those sinks. The levels of ABA and sucrose in seed tissues were compared in nine diverse Plant Introduction lines having seed growth rates ranging from 2.5 to 10.0 milligrams dry weight per seed per day. At 14 days after anthesis (DAA), seeds of all genotypes contained less than 2 micrograms of ABA per gram fresh weight. Levels of ABA increased rapidly, however, reaching maxima at 20 to 30 DAA, depending upon tissue type and genotype. ABA accumulated first in seed coats and then in embryos, and ABA maxima were higher in seed coats (8 to 20 micrograms per gram fresh weight) than in embryos (4 to 9 micrograms per gram fresh weight. From 30 to 50 DAA, ABA levels in both tissues decreased to less than 2 micrograms per gram fresh weight. Levels of sucrose were also low early in development, less than 10 milligrams per gram fresh weight at 14 DAA. However, by 30 DAA, sucrose levels in seed coats had increased to 20 milligrams per gram fresh weight and remained fairly constant for the remainder of the filling period. In contrast, sucrose accumulated in embryos throughout the filling period, reaching levels greater than 40 milligrams per gram fresh weight by 50 DAA. Correlation analyses indicated that the level of ABA in seed coats and embryos was not directly correlated to the level of sucrose measured in those tissues or to the rate of seed dry matter accumulation during the linear filling period. Rather, the ubiquitous pattern of ABA accumulation early in development appeared to coincide with water uptake and the rapid expansion of cotyledons occurring at that time. Whole tissue sucrose levels in embryos and seed coats, as well as sucrose levels in the embryo apoplast, were generally not correlated with the rate of dry matter accumulation. Thus, it appears that, in this set of diverse soybean genotypes, seed growth rate was not limited by endogenous concentrations of ABA or sucrose in reproductive tissues.     

Endogenous abscisic acid during the germination of chick-pea seeds

Over the past twenty years many studies have been undertaken to elucidate the regulation of seed germination. Abscisic acid (ABA) and the gibberellins (GAs) are the hormones proposed to control this process, the first by inhibiting and the second by inducing germination. It has been proposed that a high water potential increases the growth potential of the embryo, presumably permitting the production or activation by GA of the cell wall hydrolases and thus decreasing the yield threshold of the endosperm close to the radicle tip. A low water potential, e.g., imbibition in an osmoticum. imposes a stress on cell metabolism, by reducing the turgor of the radicle cells, and there is a decrease in growth potential. Exogenous ABA also causes a decline in growth potential of the radicle: however, the actions of low water potential in preventing germination are not mediated through an increase in ABA in the seeds. In the present paper an attempt is made to asses the role of ABA and polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the germination of chick-pea (Cicer arietinum L.) seeds. The endogenous ABA of chick-pea seeds was purified by reversed-phase HPLC and quantified by GC-ECD. The variations in the ABA levels in the embryonic axes and the cotyledons were studied during 120 h. of imbibition. The highest ABA level in the embryome axes was found at 18 h. coinciding with an increase in fresh weight and a high germination percentage. ABA was not detected in the cotyledons during incubation which probably indicates that the hormone is more involved in the active growth of the embryonic axes itself than in the mobilization process of the reserves. When seeds were treated with different PEG-cycles. PEG delayed germination, reduced the fresh weight of embryonic axes, and retarded the onset of ABA synthesis. It is concluded that endogenous ABA is related to the onset of germination and the growth of the embryonic axis. In addition, there is no correlation among the different PEG-cycles and the level of ABA and germination. Germination was related more to the water conditions inside the embryo's cells than to ABA levels.     

古莲子与现代莲子ABA含量和SOD活性的比较研究

本研究选用种龄为580±70年的古莲子──太子莲,和与之亲缘相近的种龄为8年的现代哈尔滨莲,对比测定其脱落酸的含量及超氧物歧化酶活性,以期探讨距今已有几百年种龄的古莲仍能保持其活力、萌发、开花的现象与这两项生理指标的关系。实验结果表明,两种莲子的皮（果皮和种皮）ABA含量均很高,太子莲和哈尔滨莲分别为4.18 μg/g, 5.69 μg/g。SOD活性在莲子吸胀期和幼苗期两种莲子的子叶中差异不明显,而在胚和幼芽中,太子莲比哈尔滨莲分别高出50%和27%。基于以上结果,说明其胚中具有较强的抗逆性物质,利于保持其生命力。莲皮中高含量的ABA及胚中高活性的SOD有利于莲子的休眠和增强其抗逆性,并保持胚的生命力。