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Regulation of Shoot Growth in Dry Soils by Abscisic Acid and by Root Messages

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Biochemical and Cellular Mechanisms of Stress Tolerance in Plants

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIH,volume 86))

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Abstract

Leaf expansion in drying soil is affected by growth substances produced by roots. The role of ABA in this root-to-shoot communication is unclear: the concentrations of free ABA in xylem sap seem too low to affect leaf expansion. Yet, ABA can inhibit shoot expansion in dry soil, as shown by the greater shoot growth when ABA synthesis is inhibited. A possible solution to this puzzle is that ABA is transported in xylem sap in a complexed form, or that another compound in xylem sap stimulates the synthesis or activity of ABA in leaves. Drying soil can stimulate the continued growth of a particular shoot tissue: the mesocotyl. The role of ABA and root messages in this unique response is being investigated.

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© 1994 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Munns, R., Sharp, R.E. (1994). Regulation of Shoot Growth in Dry Soils by Abscisic Acid and by Root Messages. In: Cherry, J.H. (eds) Biochemical and Cellular Mechanisms of Stress Tolerance in Plants. NATO ASI Series, vol 86. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79133-8_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79133-8_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-79135-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-79133-8

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