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The objectives of this research were to study the ABA induced chilling tol erance of rice, and the function of calcium in the physiological responses of ABA regulation. Rice cultivar, Taichung Sen 10 (TCS 10), was used in this res earch and was studied through the seedling and the excised root system. The r esults were obtained as follows: TCS 10 is a chilling sensitive cultivar. The seedlings and excised roots were injured seriously after being exposed to low temperature (5℃) for 1 day. The chilling tolerance of seedling and excis ed roots was improved by the pretreatment of exogenous ABA before chilling. T he application of 10μM ABA could significantly reduce chilling damage of shoo ts. However, 50μM ABA is the best concentration according to the summarizing of several physiological indexes. Different response was found when the wh ole seedlings or only the roots exposed to the chilling condition. The degree of chilling injury in shoots was important to determine the recovery ability of seedling after being reverted to 30/25℃. The growth and development of s eedlings will be recovered if the shoots were injured only lightly, even the r oots were seriously injured. Calcium inhibitor, EGTA in high concentratio n, significantly diminished the chilling tolerance of ABA induced. The other two calcium inhibitors, LaCl3 and verapamil showed little effects. In root morphology, ABA could significantly induce root tip swelling and root hair fo rmation. After being reverted to 28℃ from 5℃, the ABA treated roots grow ob viously with enlarged diameter, flourishing root hairs and more branched roots in the swelling area. High concentration of EGTA greatly decreased ABA actio n. LaCl3 and verapamil had little effects. In conclusion, the pretreatment of ABA could improve the chilling tolerance of rice significantly. The level of chilling injury in shoots affected the growth recovery of seedlings after being reverted to normal temperature. Calcium maybe involved in the ABA actio ns to improve chilling tolerance and to change root morphology. Further stud y is needed with this respect.
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