Role of ABA in Maturation of Rapeseed Embryos

Development of Brassica napus L. cv Tower embryos of different ages cultured in vitro with and without abscisic acid (ABA) was compared with normal development in situ to investigate the role of ABA in embryo maturation. Endogenous ABA levels were measured by radioimmunoassay, and sensitivity to ABA was assayed in terms of its ability to suppress precocious germination and stimulate accumulation of storage protein and storage protein mRNA. During development in situ, the levels of endogenous ABA and 12S storage protein mRNA both reach their peaks just before the embryos begin to desiccate. The ABA levels during this phase of development also correlate with the time required in culture before germination is evident. Following these peaks, increasing concentrations of exogenous ABA are required to both suppress germination and continue storage protein accumulation in vitro. Thus, both endogenous ABA and ABA sensitivity decline during maturation. The concentrations of exogenous ABA required to suppress germination at these later stages result in abnormally high levels of endogenous ABA and appear to be toxic. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that in maturing rapeseeds, low water content rather than ABA prevents germination during the later stages of development.