Characterization of an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant that has a defect in ABA accumulation: ABA-dependent and ABA-independent accumulation of free amino acids during dehydration

Plant Cell Physiol. 1998 Aug;39(8):853-8. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.pcp.a029444.

Abstract

In an attempt to elucidate the physiological role of ABA in seed dormancy and the adaptive response to dehydration, we isolated an ABA-deficient mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. which germinated in the presence of a gibberellin biosynthetic inhibitor. Genetic analysis showed this mutation is a new allele of a recently reported locus aba2, and therefore has been designated aba2-2. The levels of endogenous ABA in fresh and dehydrated tissues of the aba2-2 mutant were highly reduced compared to those of wild-type plants. As a consequence, aba2-2 plants wilt and produce seeds with reduced dormancy. Dark germinated seedlings of the aba2-2 mutant showed true leaves, which were not observed in those of the wild type, indicating that aba2-2 embryos grew precociously during seed maturation. In the dehydrated tissues of the wild-type plants, the levels of free proline, isoleucine and leucine were elevated to a content approximately 100-fold higher than those in fresh tissues. In contrast to the wild-type plants, dehydration-induced accumulation of proline was highly suppressed in the aba2-2 mutant plants while that of leucine and isoleucine accumulated. Furthermore, exogenous application of ABA to wild-type plants promoted accumulation of free proline, but not leucine nor isoleucine. These results suggest that dehydration-induced accumulation of free leucine and isoleucine is achieved independent of ABA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abscisic Acid / metabolism*
  • Amino Acids / metabolism*
  • Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / genetics
  • Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / metabolism
  • Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / physiology
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Mutagenesis
  • Phenotype
  • Plant Growth Regulators / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Amino Acids, Branched-Chain
  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • Abscisic Acid