Modulation by phenolic compounds of ABA-induced inhibition of mustard (Brassica juncea L. cv. RLM 198) seed germination

摘要

Exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) inhibited the germination of B. juncea seeds in a concentration dependent manner. As revealed in a time-course study, the ABA-induced inhibition got progressively alleviated with the lapse of time following ABA treatmentpossibly due to metabolic conversion of applied ABA in the seed tissue. A simultaneous application of certain phenolic compounds namely, p-coumaric -, vanillic-, gallic-, and chlorogenic acid (but not caffeic acid) also caused an alleviation of ABA effect. Of the above two patterns of recovery, the phenolic-dependent alleviation of ABA effect was apparent much earlier (24-48 hr treatment) than the time-dependent one (72 hr). It is likely that phenolics could accelerate ABA metabolism in the seed tissueleading to an early recovery from ABA- induced inhibition.