ABA levels in chick-pea seeds during the first twenty-four hours of germination. Effect of polyethylene-glycol

The abscisic acid (ABA) in chick-pea seeds germinated in water and stressed by 60 mM polyethylene-glycol (PEG) was studied. ABA in embryonic axes increased slightly at 3 hr, but underwent a higher increase at 18 hr, when elongation of the embryonic axes had started. PEG affected both growth and germination, diminishing the fresh weight of embryonic axes and inhibiting seed germination. The ABA level did not increase in the presence of PEG. The results suggest that abscisic acid is metabolized during the first 24 hours of germination. PEG treatment induced water stress and inhibited germination, without modifying significantly ABA levels in relation to those found in dry seeds.