Genetic variability and heritability of drought-induced abscisic acid accumulation in spring wheat

Abstract. Twenty cultivars of spring wheat were examined for variation in abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation following partial dehydration of excised leaves. A 3-fold range of ABA concentration was obtained.
A cross between two cultivars which differed in drought-induced ABA accumulation was used to study the heritability of ABA accumulation and to develop lines differing in their capacity to accumulate ABA. Broad sense heritability was 0–32 between the F₂ and F₃ generations and 0–70 between the F₃ and F₄ generations. Apparent homozygosity for ABA accumulation was achieved in several selections at the F₄. The possible significance for drought resistance of differences in capacity to accumulate ABA is discussed.