EFFECT OF SPEAR REMOVAL ON ABA LEVELS IN ADJACENT BUDS OF ASPARAGUS SPEARS

Effect of spear removal by cutting on abscisic acid (ABA) level in bud s of asparagus spears was investigated. ABA level in buds was determin ed by an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay after a pre-purification pro cedure. ABA level in F-buds which included the buds adjacent to stems of cladophylls or spears drastically decreased to 38.0% of the control level at 12 hr after cutting and reached the minimal ABA level of 10. 6% of the control at 48 hr after cutting. On the other hand, F-buds st arted to elongate just 12 hr after cutting and then grew to over 40 mm height in 72 hr. ABA level in S-buds which included the remaining bud s also decreased after cutting although no significant elongation of S -buds was observed. Thus, it is assumed that the ABA level in buds dra stically decreased by a stimulus or stress of cutting before the buds started to grow.