ABSCISIC ACID IN THE NODULATED ROOT SYSTEM OF <i>ALNUS GLUTINOSA</i>

Abstract

SUMMARY Evidence for the presence of abscisic acid (ABA) in the perennial root nodules of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. has been obtained by electron‐capture‐detection gas chromatography (GC–ECD), combined gas‐chromatography mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and GC‐MS using single‐ion monitoring (GC‐SIM). The free‐ABA content of the nodules was shown by GC‐ECD analysis to fluctuate seasonally over the range 101 to 879 ng g −1 fresh weight. No obvious correlations were found between the amount of ABA detected and rates of nodule growth. However, ABA pools in dormant nodules were up to 25 times higher than in those from actively growing plants.