Exogenous ABA as a Modulator of the Response ofSorghumto High Salinity

Abstract
Treatment of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, cv. 610, with abscisic acid (ABA) during the first week of sahnization with 150 mol m−3 NaCl induced enhancement of growth and accelerated adaptation to high salinity (300 mol m−3 NaCl) Adaptation is defined as the development of the ability of the plant to survive, grow, and set seeds upon exposure to a NaCl concentration which is lethal for the unadapted plant In the absence of ABA the saline pretreatment requires 20 d for the development of adaptation (Amzallag et al., 1990), with ABA treatment the same result is achieved within approximately one week The exposure of the plants to non-lethal salinity (150 mol m−3 NaCl) apparently triggers a transient sensitivity to ABA lasting for about 8 to 10 d following the beginning of sahnization This period coincides with an increase in leaf PEP carboxylase activity which seems to occur faster if the plants are treated with ABA. Exogenous ABA-induced enhancement of growth and control of shoot Na+ concentration, occur at a lower ABA concentration (≈10 mmol m−3) than the induction of adaptation to salinity which oc curs at ≈40 mmol m−3 or above. The lowered shoot Na+ concentration which is induced by a low ABA concentration is not sufficient to induce survival of the plants in high salinity (300 mol m−3 NaCl).

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