(1) Department of Botany, Biotechnology Centre, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342033, India;(2) Department of Botany, Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221005, India
Abstract:
Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a significant role in the regulation of many physiological processes of plants. It is often used
in tissue culture systems to promote somatic embryogenesis and enhance somatic embryo quality by increasing desiccation tolerance
and preventing precocious germination. ABA is also employed to induce somatic embryos to enter a quiescent state in plant
tissue culture systems and during synthetic seed research. Application of exogenous ABA improves in vitro conservation and
the adaptive response of plant cell and tissues to various environmental stresses. ABA can act as anti-transpirant during
the acclimatization of tissue culture-raised plantlets and reduces relative water loss of leaves during the ex vitro transfer
of plantlets even when non-functional stomata are present. This review focuses on the possible roles of ABA in plant tissue
culture and recent developments in this area.