Accumulation and leakage of abscisic acid during embryo development and seed dormancy in wheat

Abstract

Seed dormancy develops latein embryogenesis after a period of potential prematuregermination and has been associated with levels ofabscisic acid (ABA) in, and sensitivity to, ABA ofembryos. In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)embryos, there are two peaks in levels of ABA duringdevelopment: the first occurs 25 days afterpollination (DAP) and the second from 35 to 40 DAP. The first peak of ABA appears to be associated withthe development of the embryo's sensitivity to ABAsince such sensitivity was altered in seeds on earsthat were incubated in a solution of ABA from 15 and20 DAP. In the embryos of Kitakei wheat, a line thatexhibits dormancy, the second peak, at around 35 DAP,was more prolonged in comparison to Chihoku, anon-dormant line. The results support the proposedinvolvement of ABA in the formation and maintenance ofseed dormancy during middle and late embryogenesis. When developing embryos were incubated in water,embryonic ABA leaked out from the embryos, inparticular between 30 and 40 DAP. Prematuregermination observed between 30 and 40 DAP might berelated to such leakage of ABA from embryos.