LC-MS-MS reveals plant response to ABA

The impact of the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) has been studied by Chinese scientists using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) and gel electrophoresis.

Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Botany and the Capital Normal University collaborated on the study, which is published in BMC Plant Biology this week.

They used LC-MS-MS to determine how ABA affects Physcomitrella patens, a species of moss.

Among their findings, they discovered that the hormone is capable of defending plants against oxidative damage by triggering defence and stress responses.

"Physiological and molecular responses to the plant hormone ABA appear to be conserved among higher plant species and bryophytes," they conclude.

This is in addition to the other effects that the hormone is known to have on plantlife at different stages in its development.

For instance, ABA is linked with dormancy and germination of seeds, as well as driving maturation and inducing embryogenesis.