Interaction of environment and ABA and GA treatments on the maize anther culture response

Treatments designed to influence abscisic acid (ABA) or gibberellin (GA) concentrations were applied to developing tassels of maize (Zea mays L.) plants in different environments or to anthers in culture to determine the effect on formation of embryo-like structures (ELS). Production of ELS was significantly affected in certain environments when ABA, GA₃, ancymidol, or fluridone solutions were pipetted into whorls of field-grown plants approximately 3 days before tassel harvest. In 1996 anthers from 10 M ancymidol-treated plants were most responsive, producing 35 ELS/100 anthers and 50 M GA₃-treated plants were least responsive, producing 12 ELS/100 anthers. In 1997 under hotter, drier conditions, anthers from 50 M GA₃-treated plants were most responsive, producing 20 ELS/100 anthers and those from 50 M ABA-treated plants were least responsive, producing 2.4 ELS/100 anthers. Anthers from growth chamber plants were significantly more responsive when grown in a 16-h than a 12-h photoperiod. With the 16-h photoperiod the response was significantly greater with a 250 M ABA whorl treatment. With the 12-h photoperiod there was no significant effect from whorl treatments. Modification of the culture medium with added ABA, GA₃, ancymidol, or fluridone was generally ineffective, except in 1997 when the response was significantly higher with 1 M ABA added to the culture medium. The results suggest that the maize anther culture response may be influenced by environmental conditions that interact with ABA and GA treatments to donor plants during tassel development.     

Maturation of integrated functions during development. I. Modifications of the regulatory network during transition periods in Sorghum bicolor

Gibberellin (GA) and cytokinin (CK) were exogenously supplied at different periods of the vegetative development in Sorghum bicolor. Growth response to these hormonal treatments differed according to the developmental stage. This reveals the existence of discrete phenophases, each one characterized by a specific sensitivity to plant growth regulations (PGRs). Developmental changes in sensitivity were less accentuated in plants grown in optimal conditions than in plants exposed to 150 mM NaCl. Variations in organ connectance (the level of coordination in growth of the shoot, adventitious roots and seminal root) were analysed during vegetative growth of salt‐treated plants. This analysis shows a temporary decrease in connectance during the transition period between phenophases. From the effect of hormonal treatments on connectance, it was concluded that (i) the transition period coincides with a partial dismantling of the initial regulatory network followed by the emergence of a new network coordinating growth of the different organs; (ii) GA is involved in the process of emergence of a transition period; and (iii) duration of the transition period is considerably enlarged for plants exposed to NaCl stress. This dynamics of alternance of phenophase and transition periods enables the integration of the two modes of action of the PGRs (dose–response and change in sensitivity) within a unified framework.     

Glutathione in adaptation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis> to cadmium stress

The role of glutathione (GSH) in the adaptation of wild type Arabidopsis thaliana plants to Cd stress was investigated. The nutrient solution (control or containing 50 or 100 μM Cd) was supplemented with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO; 50, 100, 500 μM, to decrease the GSH content in plants) or GSH (50, 100, 500 μM, to increase its content in plants) in order to find how GSH content could regulate Cd stress responses. BSO application did not influence plant biomass, while exogenous GSH (especially 500 μM) reduced root biomass. BSO (500μM) in combination with Cd (100 μM) increased Cd toxicity on root growth (by over 50 %), most probably due to reduced GSH content and phytochelatin (PC) accumulation (by over 96 %). On the other hand, combination of exogenous GSH (500 μM) with Cd (100 μM) was also more toxic to plants than Cd alone despite a significant increase in GSH and PC accumulation (up to 2.7 fold in the roots). This fact could indicate that the natural content of endogenous GSH in wild type A. thaliana plants is sufficient for Cd-tolerance. A decrease in this GSH content led to decreased Cd-tolerance of the plants but an increase in GSH content did not enhance Cd-tolerance, and it showed even toxic effect on the plants.     

Modification of chromium (VI) phytotoxicity by exogenous gibberellic acid application in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pisum sativum</Emphasis> (L.) seedlings

Effects of exogenous gibberellic acid (GA; 10 and 100 μM) application on growth, protein and nitrogen contents, ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) content, enzymes of nitrogen assimilation and antioxidant system in pea seedlings were investigated under chromium (VI) phytotoxicity (Cr VI; 50, 100 and 250 μM). Exposure of pea seedlings to Cr and 100 μM GA resulted in decreased seed germination, fresh and dry weight and length of root and shoot, and protein and nitrogen contents compared to control. Compared to control, Cr and 100 μM GA led to the significant alteration in nitrogen assimilation in pea. These treatments decreased root and shoot nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamine 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GOGAT) activities (except 50 μM Cr alone for GOGAT) while glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity and NH₄ ⁺ content increased. Compared to control, the root and shoot activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased (except APX activity at 250 μM Cr + 100 μM GA) while catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) activities were decreased (except GR at 100 μM GA alone) following exposure of Cr and 100 μM GA. Total ascorbate and total glutathione in root and shoot decreased by the treatments of Cr and 100 μM GA while their levels were increased by the application of 10 μM GA compared to Cr treatments alone. It has been reported that application of 10 μM GA together with Cr alleviated inhibited levels of growth, nitrogen assimilation and antioxidant system compared to Cr treatments alone. This study showed that application of 10 μM GA counteracts some of the adverse effects of Cr phytotoxicity with the increased levels of antioxidants and sustained activities of enzymes of nitrogen assimilation; however, 100 μM GA showed apparently reverse effect under Cr phytotoxicity.     

Expression of a gibberellin 2-oxidase gene around the shoot apex is related to phase transition in rice

A major catabolic pathway for gibberellin (GA) is initiated by 2beta-hydroxylation, a reaction catalyzed by GA 2-oxidase. We have isolated and characterized a cDNA, designated Oryza sativa GA 2-oxidase 1 (OsGA2ox1) from rice (Oryza sativa L. cv Nipponbare) that encodes a GA 2-oxidase. The encoded protein, produced by heterologous expression in Escherichia coli, converted GA(1), GA(4), GA(9), GA(20), and GA(44) to the corresponding 2beta-hydroxylated products GA(8), GA(34), GA(51), GA(29), and GA(98), respectively. Ectopic expression of the OsGA2ox1 cDNA in transgenic rice inhibited stem elongation and the development of reproductive organs. These transgenic plants were deficient in endogenous GA(1). These results indicate that OsGA2ox1 encodes a GA 2-oxidase, which is functional not only in vitro but also in vivo. OsGA2ox1 was expressed in shoot apex and roots but not in leaves and stems. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that OsGA2ox1 mRNA was localized in a ring at the basal region of leaf primordia and young leaves. This ring-shaped expression around the shoot apex was drastically decreased after the phase transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. It was absent in the floral meristem, but it was still present in the lateral meristem that remained in the vegetative phase. These observations suggest that OsGA2ox1 controls the level of bioactive GAs in the shoot apical meristem; therefore, reduction in its expression may contribute to the early development of the inflorescence meristem.     

Developmental Changes in Effect of Cytokinin and Gibberellin on Shoot K+ and Na+ Accumulation in Salt-Treated Sorghum Plants

Abstract: The effect of cytokinin (CK) and/or gibberellin (GA) treatments on shoot accumulation of Na⁺ and K⁺ was investigated in Sorghum bicolor exposed to 150 mM NaCl. These hormonal treatments modified the shoot content of Na⁺ and K⁺, but the effect varied throughout development. Comparison of ion concentration versus ion content in shoots indicates that regulation of shoot concentration of K⁺ is modified during a transition period of development. This change is concomitant with reorganization of the regulation network for meristem activity, an event also involving changes in sensitivity to CK and GA. This evidence suggests a strong interdependency between dynamic changes in a between-organ network of relations and control of accumulation of monovalent ions in the shoot. Moreover, a new pattern of regulation of shoot Na⁺ concentration emerges during the transition period. During this process GA appears progressively involved in regulation of Na retranslocation, while CK is rather controlling the root uptake of Na⁺. Accordingly, the spontaneous emergence of Na-includer and Na-excluder individuals observed from an initially homogeneous population is interpreted as related to variations in sensitivity to GA and CK during differentiation of this newly emerging pathway of regulation.     

Effects of Abscisic Acid on the Growth Pattern of the Shoot Apical Meristem and on Flowering in Chenopodium rubrum L.

Abscisic acid (ABA) at 1 x 10^–4 M or 3 x 10^–4 Mwas applied to the apical buds of Chenopodium rubrum plantsexposed to different photoperiodic treatments and showing differentpatterns of floral differentiation. Stimulation of growth inwidth of the apical meristem of the shoot and/or inhibitionof growth in length was obtained under all photoperiodic treatments.This change of growth pattern was followed by different effectson flowering. In non-induced plants grown under continuous light ABA stimulatedpericlinal divisions in the peripheral zone and the initiationof leaves as well as the growth in width of bud primordia. Inplants induced by two short days reduced growth of the meristemcoincided with ABA application. Longitudinal growth of the meristemwas inhibited in this case and only a temporary stimulationof inflorescence formation took place. In plants induced ata very early stage, ABA exerted a strong inhibitory effect onflowering. A permanent and reproducible stimulatory effect onflowering was obtained in plants induced by three sub-criticalphotoperiodic cycles if ABA was applied to apices released fromapical dominance. In this case formation of lateral organs andinternodes was promoted by ABA and was followed by stimulatedinflorescence formation. Gibberellic acid (GA2) at 1x 10^–4M or 3 x 10^–4 M brought about a similar effect on floweringas ABA, although the primary growth effect was different, i.e.GA₂ stimulated longitudinal growth. The effects of ABA and GA₂ on floral differentiation have beencompared with earlier results obtained from auxin and kinetinapplications. These growth hormones are believed to regulateflowering by changing cellular growth within the shoot apex.Depending on the actual state of the meristem identical growthresponses may result in different patterns of organogenesisand even in opposite effects on flowering. Shoot apex, flowering, photoperiodic induction, abscisic acid, gibberellic acid, Chenopodium rubrum L.     

Hormone growth responses of roots of shoot height mutants of pea

Growth of the roots vertical roots of 12 genotypes of peas ( Pisum sativum ), which differed in stem height because of differing gibberellin (GA) or brassinosteroid content or signal transduction, was recorded during continuous exogenous applications of differing concentrations of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and GA₃, over a period of 12 h with a sensitivity of 2 μm. IAA was inhibitory to all genotypes tested at concentrations of 0.5 n M and above. The response was rapid, reaching a maximum within 20 min. There was no response to 0.1 n M IAA, and no concentration tested promoted growth. At 0.5 n M the growth rate dropped to the same extent as with higher concentrations but then recovered slowly over about 12 h. Roots of nana ( na ) plants, which have reduced levels of IAA, partially recovered slowly from the inhibition of even 1 μ M IAA, to about 20% of the non-IAA growth rate after 10 h. When IAA (even 1 μ M ) was removed the growth rate of all lines slowly recovered over about 9 h after a lag of 1 h. IAA application to horizontal roots prevented bending in response to gravity. Roots of 3-day-old pea plants of all genotypes were unresponsive to exogenous GA but 5-day-old nana plants showed a gradual increase in elongation rate in response to GA, after a lag of a few hours, possibly because of a depletion of GAs provided from the cotyledons of the young plants. Roots in liquid culture did not branch and gradually became thinner. The growth of cultured roots was about 25% of that of intact plants of the same genotype. GA produced no effect on cultured roots, except in nana where it enhanced elongation. IAA was always inhibitory to growth in culture but stimulated branching. Some shoot-provided factor is necessary for the normal growth and development of the roots.     

Modulating zucchini cotyledon plate meristem activity by interactions between the cycline-dependent kinase inhibitor roscovitine and cytokinins

The inhibitors of cytokinin N-glucosylation are known to influence the growth of some plant objects including cotyledons. The use of the plate meristem of zucchini cotyledon as an experimental system allowed us to study for the first time the way in which the changes in the cell division are integrated in this growth reaction. Roscovitine, a potent inhibitor of cytokinin N-glucosylation and cycline-dependent kinases, did not show to have an effect on the meristem activity when applied in 100 μM to cultivated zucchini cotyledons, and acted as an inhibitor in concentrations higher than 400 μM. A 200 μM roscovitine stimulated both palisade cell division and growth. In different seed batches, 400 μM roscovitine acted as a stimulator or an inhibitor. A much stronger stimulating effect on growth and cell division was observed after application of benzyladenine (BA, 10 μM). In contrast to BA, roscovitine provoked a formation of principally flat lamina. In combined treatments, it lowered the stimulating effect of BA; 400 μM roscovitine combined with BA severely suppressed the growth and division activity. This cellular behavior and changes in cotyledon growth could be due to the roscovitine-provoked changes in endogenous cytokinin levels via the inhibition of cytokinin N-glucosylation. Roscovitine-caused stimulation of cell growth and division is stronger in the marginal meristem than that registered in central regions of the cotyledon blade. In this region it also changed the pattern of cell division and lowered the adhesion between the clusters, which enhanced the appearance of local ruptures of the cotyledon edges. The first palisade layer of the plate meristem of cultured zucchini cotyledons, the natural mono-layer of proliferating palisade cells, may be used for screening the inhibitors of cycline-dependent kinases and cytokinin N-glucosylation with regard to their effects on cell division and growth.     

Brassinosteroid-induced exaggerated growth in hydroponically grown Arabidopsis plants

The effects of root application of brassinolide (BL) on the growth and development of Arabidopsis plants ( Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia [L.] Heynh) were evaluated. Initially, all leaves were evaluated on plants 18, 22, 26 and 29 days old. The younger leaves were found to exhibit maximal petiole elongation and upward leaf bending in response to BL treatment. Therefore, based on these results leaves 6, 7 and 8 on 22–24-day-old plants were selected for all subsequent studies. Elongation along the length of the petiole in response to BL treatment was uniform with the exception of an approximately 4 mm region next to the leaf where upward curvature was observed. Both BL and 24-epibrassinolide (24-epiBL) were evaluated, with BL being more effective at lower concentrations than 24-epiBL. The exaggerated growth induced by 0.1 μ M BL was not observed in plants treated with 1 000-fold higher concentrations of GA₃, IAA, NAA or 2,4-D (100 μ M ). In addition, no exaggerated growth effects were observed when plants were treated with 200 ppm ethylene or 1 m M ACC. All treatments with BL, NAA, 2,4-D, IAA or ACC promoted ethylene and ACC production in wild type Arabidopsis plants, but only BL triggered exaggerated plant growth. BL also promoted exaggerated growth and elevated levels of ACC and ethylene in the ethylene insensitive mutant etr1-3 , showing that the effect of BR on growth is independent of ethylene. This work provides evidence that BR-induced exaggerated growth of Arabidopsis plants is independent of gibberellins, auxins and ethylene.     

Changes of axillary meristem localization in relation to flowering ofRaphanus sativus L. after GA treatment

Two phases of radish ontogenesis (I-when the plant had produced 3 –5 nodes and II-when the plant had produced 8 –10 nodes) were established on the basis of axillary, meristem localization. Flowering of the plants in response to GA treatment depends on the phases in which they were treated and on growth correlations in the apical meristem. The results obtained suggest that the reaction ofRaphanus sativus (LDP) to GA treatment is parallel to that ofChenopodium rubrum (SDP), and that the response of radish plants also depends on changes in growth correlations in the shoot apical meristem at the time of treatment.     

Glutathione peroxidase-like protein of Synechocystis PCC 6803 confers tolerance to oxidative and environmental stresses in transgenic Arabidopsis

Glutathione peroxidase (GPX)-like proteins (GPX-1 and GPX-2) of Synechocystis PCC 6803 ( S. PCC 6803) reduce unsaturated fatty acid hydroperoxides using NADPH, but not reduced glutathione (GSH), as an electron donor. Here, we generated transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing S. PCC 6803 GPX-2 in the cytosol (AcGPX2) or chloroplasts (ApGPX2). The activities toward α-linolenic acid hydroperoxide in ApGPX2 and AcGPX2 plants were 6.5–11.5 and 8.2–16.3 nmol min⁻¹ mg protein⁻¹, respectively, while no activity (<0.1 nmol min⁻¹ mg protein⁻¹) was detected in the wild-type plants. Both transgenic lines (AcGPX2 and ApGPX2) showed enhanced tolerance to oxidative damage caused by treatment with H₂O₂ (10 m M ), Fe ions (200 μ M ) or methylviologen (50 μ M ) and environmental stress conditions, such as chilling with high light intensity (4°C, 1000 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹), high salinity (100 m M NaCl) or drought. The degree of tolerance of the transgenic plants to all types of stress was correlated with the levels of lipid peroxide suppressed by the overexpression of S. PCC 6803 GPX-2. Under conditions of oxidative stress due to the H₂O₂ treatment, the NADPH/(NADP⁺+ NADPH) ratio in the transgenic plants was lower than that in the wild-type plants. The data reported here indicate that the expression of S. PCC 6803 GPX-2 contributes to the reduction in unsaturated fatty acid hydroperoxides using NADPH in situ under stress conditions in the transgenic plants.     

Effect of nickel on antioxidative enzyme activities, proline and chlorophyll contents in wheat shoots

Effect of two Ni concentrations (10 and 200 μM) on growth, Ni accumulation, chlorophyll and proline contents, relative water content (RWC) as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were studied in shoots of wheat plants. Treatments caused a considerable accumulation of Ni in the shoots. However, exposure of plants to 10 μM Ni did not lead to significant alterations in shoot growth except for a slight increase in fresh mass. The other parameters studied were not affected by treatment of plants with 10 μM Ni. In contrast, 200 μM Ni caused inhibition of shoot growth, a decline in RWC and chlorophyll content, accumulation of proline and occurrence of visible symptoms of Ni toxicity. The activities of SOD and CAT decreased in response to 200 μM Ni. Conversely, several-fold enhancements of POD and GST activities were observed following the 3^rd day of 200 μM Ni treatment.     

1,8-Cineole inhibits root growth and DNA synthesis in the root apical meristem ofBrassica campestris L.

1,8-cineole is a volatile growth inhibitor produced bySalvia species. We examined the effect of this allelopathic compound on the growth of other plants usingBrassica campestris as the test plant. Cineole inhibited germination and growth ofB. campestris in a dosedependent manner. WhenB. campestris was grown for 5 days with various concentrations of cineole, the length of the roots was found to be shorter as the concentration of cineole increased, whereas the length of the hypocotyl remained constant up to 400 μM cineole, indicating that cineole specifically inhibited growth of the root. The mitotic index in the root apical meristem of 3-day-old seedlings decreased from 5.6% to 1.6% when exposed to 400 μM cineole, showing that cineole inhibits the proliferation of root cells. We then examined the effect of cineole on DNA synthesis by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy using antibody raised against 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU, an analogue of thymidine) in thin sections of samples embedded in Technovit 7100 resin. The results clearly demonstrated that cineole inhibits DNA synthesis in both cell nuclei and organelles in root apical meristem, suggesting that cineole may interfere with the growth of other plant species by inhibiting DNA synthesis in the root apical meristem.     

Efficient regeneration of Eucalyptus urophylla from seedling-derived hypocotyls

Seedling hypocotyls were used as explants to establish a regeneration protocol for Eucalyptus urophylla and N-phenyl-N′-[6-(2-chlorobenzothiazol)-yl] urea (PBU), one kind of di-substituted urea, was found useful growth regulator. The hypocotyls incubated on a modified Murashige and Skoog medium (SPCa), supplemented with 6.6 μM PBU and 0.57 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) dedifferentiated and form calli (100 % after 7 d). Compared with other growth regulator combinations, PBU stimulated more vigorous calli and restrained their darkening. In addition, the calli induced by PBU showed high frequency of adventitious buds formation (57%). Shoot proliferation and elongation was then stimulated on SPCa medium containing 0.44 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA), 0.54 μM naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 0.3 μM gibberellic acid (GA3). For rooting, shoots were cultivated on root induction medium containing 2.5 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Plantlets were then successfully transplanted to greenhouse.     

Effects of Cytokinin and Nitrogen on Drought Tolerance of Creeping Bentgrass

Cytokinin (CK) is a vital plant hormone that controls many aspects of growth and development in plants. Nitrogen (N) is the indispensable macronutrient needed in plants and also one of the most important limiting factors for plant growth. This study was designed to investigate the simultaneous effects of CK and N on the visual turf quality and antioxidant metabolism of drought-stressed creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.). ‘PennA-4’ creeping bentgrass treated with trans-zeatin riboside at three rates of CK concentrations of 0, 10 and 100 μM (designated by CK0, 10, and 100) and two nitrogen rates with 2.5 and 7.5 kg N·ha^-1 every 15 days (designated by low and high N) in a complete factorial arrangement was grown under two soil moisture regimes: well-watered and drought stress. Exogenous CK improved turf quality and delayed leaf wilting under drought stress, especially under high N. The grasses treated with CK10 and CK100 had lower O₂^- production and H₂O₂ concentration than those without CK treatment. The CK100 treatment enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), and guaiacol peroxidase (POD) by 25%, 22%, 17% and 24%, respectively, relative to CK0. Moreover, the activity changes of the antioxidant enzyme isoforms were more significant under high N condition relative to low N condition. Our results demonstrated the beneficial impacts of CK and N on physiological reactions, especially antioxidant metabolism, and foliar application of CK at 10 or 100 μM plus 7.5 kg ha^-1 N biweekly may improve drought stress resistance of creeping bentgrass.     

Preferential allocation of sulphur into y‐glutamylcysteinyl peptides in wheat plants grown at low sulphur nutrition in the presence of cadmium

Plants respond to Cd by synthesising phytochelatins (PC) and similar S‐rich peptides which are important in alleviating Cd toxicity. The hypothesis that S nutrition influences the sensitivity of plants to Cd was examined by measuring the growth, PC and Cd content of wheat plants ( Triticum aestivum cv. Condor) grown at 10–1000 µ M S with and without 30 µ M Cd. In the absence of Cd, 100 µ M S was marginally S‐limiting. Cd severely inhibited root growth at 100 µ M S but the concentrations of PC, Cd–PC complexes and Cd in the root were similar to those of plants grown at 1000 µ M S which exhibited no evidence of Cd toxicity. Plants grown at low S (10 and 30 µ M ) contained lower concentrations of Cd. However, they produced very low amounts of PC and were very sensitive to Cd. At 10–300 µ M S (but not at 1000 µ M ), Cd enhanced the concentration of S in the root. The data are consistent with a model in which plants preferentially allocate S to PC synthesis. When S was marginally limiting (100 µ M ), the S supply was sufficient for PC synthesis but not root growth, effectively causing Cd‐induced S deficiency. This did not occur at high S (1000 µ M ). Conversely, at low S (10 and 30 µ M ), the synthesis of PC₂–PC₄ was decreased by 87 and 66%, respectively, thereby resulting in decreased Cd uptake while also making the plants especially sensitive to Cd.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">CKB1</Emphasis> is involved in abscisic acid and gibberellic acid signaling to regulate stress responses in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis>

Casein kinase II (CK2), an evolutionarily well-conserved Ser/Thr kinase, plays critical roles in all higher organisms including plants. CKB1 is a regulatory subunit beta of CK2. In this study, homozygous T-DNA mutants (ckb1-1 and ckb1-2) and over-expression plants (35S:CKB1-1, 35S:CKB1-2) of Arabidopsis thaliana were studied to understand the role of CKB1 in abiotic stress and gibberellic acid (GA) signaling. Histochemical staining showed that although CKB1 was expressed in all organs, it had a relatively higher expression in conducting tissues. The ckb1 mutants showed reduced sensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA) during seed germination and seedling growth. The increased stomatal aperture, leaf water loss and proline accumulation were observed in ckb1 mutants. In contrast, the ckb1 mutant had increased sensitivity to polyaluminum chloride during seed germination and hypocotyl elongation. We obtained opposite results in over-expression plants. The expression levels of a number of genes in the ABA and GA regulatory network had changed. This study demonstrates that CKB1 is an ABA signaling-related gene, which subsequently influences GA metabolism, and may play a positive role in ABA signaling.