Abscisic-acid-induced turion formation in Spirodela polyrrhiza L. IV. Comparative ion flux characteristics of the turion and the vegetative frond and the effect of ABA during early turion development |
| |
Authors: | CHERYL C SMART ANTHONY J TREWAVAS |
| |
Institution: | Department of Botany, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JH, U.K. |
| |
Abstract: | Abstract Using the method of compartmental analysis, the ion fluxes and compartment concentrations of Ca2+, K+ and Cl- have been compared in the untreated vegetative frond and the abscisic acid (ABA) induced turion of Spirodela polyrrhiza. The ABA-induced turion is characterized by reduced Ca2+ exchange across the tonoplast and low vacuolar Ca2+ concentration relative to the vegetative frond. In addition the turion exhibits a higher plasmalemma flux with a correspondingly high Ca2+ concentration in the cytoplasm. The concentration of K+ and Cl- is much lower in the cytoplasm of the ABA-induced turion than in the vegetative frond with the influx/efflux ratio at both the plasmalemma and the tonoplast being less than 1, a finding exhibited also in dormant storage tissue. Treatment of vegetative fronds with ABA for 18 h resulted in a reduced K+ plasmalemma efflux relative to untreated vegetative fronds and a concomitant increase in the cytoplasmic concentration. There was no rapid effect of ABA on Ca2+, K+ or Cl- fluxes through either membrane. These results are consistent with the notion that drastic changes in ion fluxes and concentrations in the turion are a secondary consequence of ABA-induced development, possibly due to prior regulation by ABA of enzymes inherent to processes involved in membrane transport. |
| |
Keywords: | Spirodela polyrrhiza turion abscisic acid compartmental analysis ion fluxes calcium |
|
|