A Plant Hormone Responsive to Environmental Stress

Abscisic Acid ((S)-(+)-Abscisic Acid) (1) is one of seven plant hormones known along with auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, jasmone, ethylene and brassinosteroid. For example, plants increase the synthesis of 1 in response to drying stress, and minimize loss of water by closing stomata on leaves. Recently the research into the intracellular signaling pathway about various anti-stress genetic expressions had been promoted resulting in a receptor for 1 finally being found in 2009. Since then researchers have been working on the clarification of genes and molecules involved in 1. It is expected to be useful in resolving food and environmental problems.