Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in abscisic acid levels in embryo axes of Norway maple and sycamore seeds during maturation and dehydration

  • Published:
Acta Physiologiae Plantarum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Changes in the abscisic acid (ABA) levels in embryo axes of seeds, belonging to the orthodox (Norway maple — Acer platanoides L.) and recalcitrant (sycamore — Acer pseudoplatanus L.) categories, were investigated throughout maturation using an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test. Concentration of ABA in embryo axes substantially differed depending on species and sampling date. ABA was always higher in Norway maple except at the end of seed maturation when ABA content was similar in both species. During maturation ABA decreased in both species but the decline was more marked in Norway maple than in sycamore (11 vs. 3 fold). These species also differed in the pattern of ABA changes, which in sycamore embryo axes was very regular, while in Norway maple a sharp decrease was recorded after acquisition by the seeds of tolerance to desiccation. Dehydration of embryo axes of Norway maple caused a further significant decrease of ABA level. In contrast, in dehydrated sycamore embryo axes ABA content did not decrease, but slightly increased. The role of ABA in desiccation tolerance and dormancy of Norway maple and sycamore seeds is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackerson R. 1984. Regulation of soybean embryogenesis by abscisic acid. J. Exp. Bot. 34: 403–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bewley J.D., Black S. 1982. Physiology and Biochemistry of Seeds in Relation to Germination. vol. 2, pp. 60–125, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Black M. 1991. Involvement of ABA in the physiology of developing and mature seeds. In: Abscisic Acid. Physiology and Biochmistry, ed. by W.J. Davies, H.G. Jones, Oxford: Bios Sci. Publ. Ltd: 99–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackman S.A., Wettlaufer S.H., Obendorf R.L., Leopold A.C. 1991. Maturation proteins associated with desiccation tolerance in soybean. Plant Physiol. 96: 868–874.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dickie J.B., May K., Morris S.V.A., Titley S.E. 1991. The effect of desiccation on seed survival in Acer platanoides L. and Acer pseudoplatanus L. Seed Sci. Res. 1: 149–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finch-Savage W.E., Pramanik S.K., Bewley J.D. 1994. The expression of dehydrin proteins in desiccation-sensitive (recalcitrant) seeds of temperate trees. Planta 193: 478–485.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harada J.J. 1997. Seed maturation and control of germination. In: Cellular and Molecular Biology of Plant Seed Development, ed. by B.A. Larkins, I.K. Vasil, Kluwer Acad. Publ.: 545–592.

  • Hong T.D., Ellis R.H. 1990. A comparison of maturation drying, germination and desiccation tolerance between developing seeds of Acer pseudoplatanus L. and Acer platanoides L. New Phytol. 116: 589–596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu F.C. 1979. Abscisic acid accumulation in developing seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris L. Plant Physiol. 63: 552–556.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kermode A.R., Dumbroff E.B., Bewley J.D. 1989. The role of maturation drying in the transition from seed development to germination. VII. Effects of partial and complete desiccation on abscisic acid levels and sensitivity in Ricinus communis L. seeds. J. Exp.Bot. 40: 303–313.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leon-Kloosterziel K.M., van de Bunt G.A., Zeevaart J.A.D., Koornneef M. 1996. Arabidopsis mutants with a reduced seed dormancy. Plant Physiol. 110: 233–240.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mertens R., Deus-Neumann B., Weiler E.W. 1983. Monoclonal antibodies for the detection and quantification of the endogenous plant growth regulator, abscisic acid. FEBS Letters 160: 269–272.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ooms J.J.J., Leon-Kloosterziel K.M., Bartels D., Koornneef M., Karssen C.M. 1993. Acquisition of desiccation tolerance and longevity in seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiol. 102: 1185–1191.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinfield N.J., Dungey N.O. 1985. Seed dormancy in Acer: an assessment of the role of the structures covering the embryo. J. Plant Physiol. 120: 65–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinfield N.J., Stutchbury P.A., Bazaid S.A. 1987. Seed dormancy in Acer: is there a common mechanism for all Acer species and what part is played in it by abscisic acid. Physiol. Plant. 71: 365–371.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinfield N.J., Stutchbury P.A., Bazaid S.A., Gwarazimba V.E.E. 1989. Seed dormancy in Acer: the relationship between seed dormancy, embryo dormancy and abscisic acid in Acer plantanoides L. J. Plant Physiol. 135: 313–318.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinfield N.J., Stutchbury P.A., Bazaid S.A., Gwarazimba V.E.E. 1990. Abscisic acid and the regulation of embryo dormancy in the genus Acer. Tree Physiol. 6: 79–85.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pukacka S. 1998. Carbohydrate content and sucrose metabolism in Acer platanoides and Acer pseudoplatanus seeds in relation to desiccation tolerance. Bulgar. Plant Physiol. Special issue, pp. 25.

  • Pukacka S., Czubak A. 1998. The effect of desiccation on viability and membrane lipid composition of Acer pseudoplatanus seeds. Acta Soc.Bot. Polon. 67: 249–252.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pukacka S., Pukacki P.M. 1997. Changes in soluble sugars in relation to desiccation tolerance and effect of dehydration on freezing characteristics of Acer platanoides and Acer pseudoplatanus seeds. Acta Physiol. Plant. 19: 147–154.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pukacka S., Wójkiewicz E. 2002. Carbohydrate metabolism in Norway maple and sycamore seeds in relation to desiccation tolerance. J Plant Physiol. 159: 273–279.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rock C.D., Quatrano R.S. 1995. The role of hormones during seed development. In: Plant Hormones, ed. by P.J. Davies, Kluwer, Dordrecht.: 671–697.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schussler J.R., Brenner M.L., Brun W.A. 1991. Relationship of endogenous abscisic acid to sucrose level and seed growth rate of soybeans. Plant Physiol. 96:1308–1313.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh Z., Browning G. 1991. The role of ABA in the control of apple seed dormancy re-appraised by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. J. Exp. Bot. 42: 269–275.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skriver K., Mundy J. 1990. Gene expression in response to abscisic acid and osmotic stress. Plant Cell 2: 503–512.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker-Simmons M. 1987. ABA levels and sensitivity in developing wheat embryos of sprouting resistant and susceptible cultivars. Plant Physiol. 84: 61–66.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weiler E.W. 1982. An enzyme-immunoassay for cis-(+)-abscisic acid. Physiol. Plant. 54: 510–514.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035, Kórnik, Poland

    Stanisława Pukacka

  2. Department of Plant Physiology, Warsaw Agricultural University, Rakowiecka 26-30, 02-528, Warsaw, Poland

    Helena Gawrońska

Authors
  1. Stanisława Pukacka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Helena Gawrońska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stanisława Pukacka.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pukacka, S., Gawrońska, H. Changes in abscisic acid levels in embryo axes of Norway maple and sycamore seeds during maturation and dehydration. Acta Physiol Plant 24, 149–155 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-002-0005-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-002-0005-9

Key words

Search

Navigation