Abstract
Abscisic acid (ABA) regulates various plant physiological phenomena, inculuding seed dormancy and responses to abiotic environmental stresses. In order to identify the components involved in ABA signaling pathway, we conducted a genetic screen searching for mutants which have an altered ABA sensitivity. We isolated eight ABA hypersensitive mutants named ahg (ABA hypersensitive germination, previously reported as air). The ahg1,2 and 3 cannot germinate in the presence of 0.3μM ABA, a concentration that allowed germination of wild-type (WT) seeds. The ahg4 and 5 less germinates in the presence of 0.3μM ABA. Mapping of the ahg mutantions useing SSLP markers revealed ahg1 to 4 locate to new loci, suggesting that they are novel genes.
Currently, we are trying to characterize those mutants, by examining the effect of NaCl, KCl, mannitol, glucose and sucrose on the germination of the ahg mutants.
