Effect of abscisic acid on the photosynthetic oxygen evolution in barley chloroplasts

In vivo effect of abscisic acid (ABA) on photosynthetic oxygen evolution was investigated in barley chloroplasts. The most important kinetic parameters of O2-producing reactions were changed. The results show inhibition of the O2-flash yields at ABA concentrations of 10 μmol/l and 100 μmol/l and an increase in the degree of damping of the oscillations. ABA has a marked effect on the distribution of the oxygenevolving centers in S0 and S1 states and on sum of the centers (S0+S1) estimated according to the Kok model. In addition, the amplitude and the shape of the initial oxygen burst under continuous illumination are also significantly altered. At a concentration of 100 μmol/l, ABA strongly inhibits Hill reaction activity measured by DCPIP reduction. The results cannot be explained by the hypothesis of socalled "stomata effect". On the other hand, no effects were observed on the investigated parameters in experiments involving ABA applied in vitro to isolated chloroplasts. It is hypothesized that ABA disrupts the granal chloroplasts structure and raises the degree of participation of the cooperative mechanism of O2-evolution connected with the functioning of PS IIβ centers in the stroma situated thylakoids.