WATER STRESS IN CITRUS: DOES ENDOGENOUS ABA PLAY A REGULATORY ROLE?

The activity of the ABA-accumulating mechanism in response to water stress has been investigated at 3 plant levels: detached leaves, potted seedlings and trees in the orchard.

Detached leaves are capable of rapid increase in endogenous ABA levels; upon rehydration both ABA levels and water potentials returned to pre-stress levels.

In potted seedlings the ABA-accumulating mechanism although present is less intense: accumulation is slow and levels attained are relatively lower.
Rehydration is again effective.

Under orchard conditions it proved difficult to correlate changes in ABA levels and in water status.

The significance of the ABA-accumulating mechanism in citrus leaves is discussed.

Symposium on Water Supply and Irrigation

M. Weill, A. Avidan, E.E. Goldschmidt, S.P. Monselise

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1979.89.22