EFFECTS OF (-S-ABSCISIC ACID ON THE QUALITY OF STORED CUCUMBER AND TOMATO SEEDLINGS())

Effects of ABA on the quality of stored cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings were investigated in two experiments, Foliarly applied ABA ( 20, 100, or 500 mg liter(- 1)) decreased transpiration of stored, pot-grown, cucumber seedlings a t 8, 15, and 20C. Seedlings stored at 15 and 20C were slender with lon g internodes, At these temperatures, ABA at 100 and 500 mg liter(-1) r educed plant internode length, Seedlings stored at 8C and those not st ored were short, and ABA did not affect internode length, A decrease o f chlorophyll content in the first leaf of seedlings stored at 20C was less pronounced with ABA. In the second experiment, the effect of a f oliar ABA application on stored, plug-grown, cucumber and tomato seedl ings was determined. When seedlings were stored at 20C, those sprayed with ABA did not wilt, but nontreated seedlings did wilt. No seedlings wilted when stored at 8 and 15C. These results suggest that ABA could be used to maintain the quality of cucumber and tomato seedlings stor ed at 15 or 20C, Chemical name used: (+)-S-abscisic acid (ABA).