ABA- and Kinetin-induced Changes in Cell Homogenates, Chromatin-Bound RNA Polymerase and RNA Composition

Abstract

Recent studies show that abscisic acid (ABA), a potent inhibitor of seed germination, is found in a number of seeds. The ABA-induced inhibition is overcome in many instances by the cytokinins (Khan, 1967, 1968a, 1969a; Aspinall et al, 1967; Sankhla and Sankhla, 1968). A treatment with cytokinins also results in the release of dormancy in seeds (Frankland, 1961; Khan, 1966). During dormancy release in seeds and buds by cytokinins, by cold treatment or by other means, a decrease in the level of ABA or other inhibitors has been observed (Hemberg, 1965, 1970; Sondheimer and Galston, 1968). These and other results have led to the postulate that cytokinins and inhibitors along with gibberellins participate in the expression of seed dormancy and germination (Khan, 1968a, 1969a,b).