Abscisic Acid stimulation of suberization : induction of enzymes and deposition of polymeric components and associated waxes in tissue cultures of potato tuber

Abstract

Effect of abscisic acid (ABA) on suberization of potato (Solanum tuberosum var. Russet-Burbank) tuber tissue culture was studied by measuring deposition of suberin components and the level of certain key enzymes postulated to be involved in suberization. ABA treatment resulted in a 3-fold increase in the polymeric aliphatic components of suberin and a 4-fold increase in the polymeric aromatic components. Hydrocarbons and fatty alcohols, two components characteristic of waxes associated with potato suberin, increased 9- and 5-fold, respectively, as a result of ABA treatment. Thus, the deposition of the polymeric aliphatics and aromatics as well as waxes, all of which have been postulated to be components of suberized cell walls, was markedly stimulated by ABA. omega-Hydroxy-fatty acid dehydrogenase which showed a rather high initial level of activity increased only 60% due to ABA treatment. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity reached a maximum at a 5-fold level after 4 days in the ABA medium, whereas the control showed only a 3-fold increase. ABA treatment also resulted in a dramatic (7-fold) increase in an isozyme of peroxidase which has been specifically associated with suberization. Thus, ABA appears to induce certain key enzymes which are most probably involved in suberization.