Isolation and Identification of a Growth Inhibitor in Spur Buds of Apricot1

Abstract

A sample of freeze-dried apricot buds collected during December, 1968, and January, 1969, was extracted with 80% methanol. The extract was partitioned into 3 phases: water, neutral acetate, and acidic ether. The acidic ether phase contained most of the inhibitor that was present in the methanolic extract. Thus, further purification and identification was done with this fraction exclusively. The similarity of Rf values of abscisic acid and of the apricot bud inhibitor when TL-cochromatographed using 10 different solvent systems, the equal retention times of their methylated derivatives when gas chromatographed, the congruency of their ultraviolet light spectra, and their inhibition of growth of apricot seedlings indicate that the apricot bud inhibitor is similar, if not identical, to abscisic acid.

Isolation and Identification of a Growth Inhibitor in Tung Bud Scales1

“…T h in -lay er chrom atographs indicated corresponding agreement between Rf values of the tung bud-scale extract and authentic ABA in each of the 4 solvents tested. The R fs were similar to those reported for ABA, with the exception of those from the benzene: ace tic acid:water (8:3:5) solvent (2,5). This solvent forms a 2 phase system.…”

“…Many reports indicate the role of abscisic acid (ABA) in the induction and prolongation of dormancy in the shoots of deciduous trees (1). This hormone has been isolated from the buds of peach and apricot (2,5). Here we report the extraction and tentative identification of an inhibitor in the scales of dormant tung buds, which we believe is ABA.…”

The Evolution of Plant Hormone Analysis1

“…It is very widely used for the detection of the hormone ethylene. Various papers have been published describing its application to other hormone work (1,5,8,9,19,22,30,40,47). It has one major fault.…”