The Reduction of (±)-(2−14C) Abscisic Acid to the 1', 4'-Trans-Diol by Pea Seedlings and the Formation of 4'-Desoxy ABA as an Artefact

Abstract

(±)(2-¹⁴C]ABA is metabolized by pea seedlings to phaseic and dihydrophaseic acids and conjugates and it is also reduced to the 1', 4'-trans-diol of ABA. This compound runs at the same R_F as the putative metabolite identified as 4'-desoxy ABA by Tietz et al (1979). The 1', m4'-/trans-diol is dehydrated during gas/liquid chromatography to 4'-desoxy ABA. No labelled zone on the autoradiogram of the plant extract could be attributed to 4'-desoxy ABA so it is presumably an artefact formed by the dehydration of the 1', 4'-trans-diol of ABA. This probably occurs in the injection port of the G. L.C.