Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Zocchi, G.
Right arrow Articles by De Nisi, P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Zocchi, G.
Right arrow Articles by De Nisi, P.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Zocchi, G.
Right arrow Articles by De Nisi, P.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Plant and Cell Physiology, 1996, Vol. 37, No. 6 840-846
© 1996

Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms Involved in the Response to Abscisic Acid in Maize Coleoptiles1

Graziano Zocchi2 and Patrizia De Nisi

Dipartimento di Fisiologia delle Piante Coltivate e Chimica Agraria, University of Milano Via Celoria 2, 1-20133 Milano, Italy

2Corresponding author: Fax 39-2-2663057.

The role of abscisic acid (ABA) in controlling growth and development has been studied in maize (Zea mays L.) coleoptile segments. Application of ABA reduces the elongation rate by about 50% and affects ion fluxes. In particular, proton extrusion is decreased while potassium efflux is greatly enhanced. Apparently, ABA does not: seem to influence calcium influx from the apoplast into the cytosol, but more likely it influences its efflux. Alteration of cytosolic calcium concentration may also be obtained by increasing its release from internal stores. This possibility might be sustained by the increased hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol upon ABA application. Change in the balance of ion fluxes should result from regulation of transport mechanisms at the membrane level and should produce changes in the transmembrane electrical potential. The H+- ATPase and the ATP-dependent calcium transport activities are both influenced by the treatment with ABA, –55% and –40%, respectively. Under these conditions [Ca2+]cyt and pHcyt can be modified and, as a consequence of their regulation, they may play an important role in mediating the physiological and biochemical effects of ABA, acting as second intracellular messengers.

1Research supported by National Research Council of Italy, Special Project RAISA, Sub-Project N. 2, Paper n. 2782.

(Received February 27, 1996; Accepted June 25, 1996)
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Exp BotHome page
E. S. Ober and R. E. Sharp
Electrophysiological responses of maize roots to low water potentials: relationship to growth and ABA accumulation
J. Exp. Bot., February 1, 2003; 54(383): 813 - 824.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.