Elucidation of the Indirect Pathway of Abscisic Acid Biosynthesis by Mutants, Genes, and Enzymes

Abscisic acid (ABA) was discovered independently by several groups in the early 1960s. Originally believed to be involved in the abscission of fruit and dormancy of woody plants, the role of ABA in these processes is still not clear. ABA is, however, necessary for seed development, adaptation to