Article
Article
- Biology & Biomedicine
- Biochemistry and molecular biology
- Abscisic acid
- Botany
- Plant physiology
- Abscisic acid
Abscisic acid
Article By:
Finkelstein, Ruth R. Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California.
Last reviewed:February 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.001200
Show previous versions
- Abscisic acid, published May 2019:Download PDF Get Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Chemistry and biosynthesis
- Physiological roles
- Stress
- Growth
- Heterophylly
- Embryogenesis, seed maturation, and germination
- Signal transduction
- Related Primary Literature
- Additional Reading
A major plant hormone that plays an important role in plant growth and development. Abscisic acid (ABA), with a chemical formula of C15H20O4 (Fig. 1), is one of the most significant hormones found in plants. It is responsible for regulating various aspects of plant physiological function, including development, growth, and stress responses. Abscisic acid is ubiquitous in vascular plants; the highest levels are found in young leaves and in developing fruits and seeds. In addition, abscisic acid is produced by mosses, certain algae, several phytopathogenic fungi, and various animals, ranging from sea sponges to mammals. Some abscisic acid signaling mechanisms appear to be common to plants and animals. See also: Plant; Plant development; Plant growth; Plant hormone; Plant metabolism; Plant physiology
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