Maize (Zes mays L.) embryos, isolated from the developing seed and incubated in dilute buffer, show reduced triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis, and accumulation stops after 24 h. Synthesis and accumulation can be maintained at high levels if the incubation medium contains abscisic acid (ABA) and/or a high osmotic concentration. Radiolabeled free fatty acids accumulate at higher levels in embryos that contain less TAG, and acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase activity remains essentially unchanged under all of the conditions tested. In contrast, the activities of the acyltransferases required for TAG synthesis remain high only in embryos incubated with ABA and/or a high osmotic concentration. Dose-response curves showed that 4 microM of ABA or mannitol at -1.0 MPa elicits a full response; both values are within the range considered to be physiological. The TAG synthesis capacity and discylglycerol acyltransferase activity lost by pretreatment of the embryos can be restored by re-exposure to ABA or high osmoticum. Germination is not involved because isolated scutellum halves showed the same changes in enzyme activity found in the whole embryo but did not germinate. Our results provide direct evidence for the regulation of TAG-synthesizing activities in maize embryos by ABA and the osmotic potential of the environment.