Abscisic acid increases terrestrial plant cell resistance to hydrostatic pressure

Abstract

Cells of the terrestrial plant species bromegrass (Bromus inermis L.) are not naturally adapted to withstand the hydrostatic pressures encountered in aquatic environments. However, after treatment with the natural plant growth hormone abscisic acid (75 micromolar), bromegrass cells survived a hydrostatic pressure of 101.3 megapascals, approximating the limits of ocean depth (10,860 m). The increased resistance to hydrostatic pressure from 1 to 7 days of abscisic acid treatment paralleled the induced elevation of cell tolerance to freezing stress.