O. M. Heide
Aug 31, 1968
Citations
0
Influential Citations
36
Citations
Journal
Nature
Abstract
ABSCISIC acid (“abscisin II”, “dormin”) is a recently discovered plant hormone originally known to accelerate leaf abscission and inhibit plant growth1. It has been isolated from various tissues of a variety of plants2,3. Its chemical structure was determined by Okhuma et al.1 and confirmed by synthesis by Cornforth et al.4. Besides the hastening of abscission of leaves and flowers, abscisic acid (ABA) affects a number of physiological processes such as seed germination, bud dormancy, leaf senescence, flowering (stimulation in short day plants, inhibition in long day plants) and tuberization5. Most of these reactions are usually achieved or controlled by short photoperiods and the level of ABA in the plant invariably increases in response to short days6. In general, the effects of ABA oppose those of auxins and gibberellins2,7.