Isolation and Characterization of ABA-Insensitive Cell Lines of Carrot

While abscisic acid (ABA) exerts multiple effects on somatic embryogenesis, the most pronounced of these effects is the arrestment of torpedo-stage embryos, preventing them from developing into plantlets. In order to understand the mechanism of ABA inhibition of plantlet formation, we have isolated seven ABA-insensitive cell lines capable of developing into plantlets in the presence of ABA. These ABA-insensitive cell lines, whose frequency of appearance is 7 x 10(-6), have been isolated from a haploid cell line of Daucus carota L. var Juwarot. Surprisingly, all seven cell lines exhibit auxin insensitivity as evidenced by their ability to produce heart-stage embryos in various auxins including 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), naphthalene acetic acid, and indolacetic acid. Three of the cell lines, ABA 1, ABA 15, and ABA 17, have been further characterized. We found that all three showed lower levels of ABA uptake which may be the cause of ABA insensitivity. However, the uptake of 2,4-D is higher in the three cell lines than in the wild type. The basis of the interaction between ABA and 2,4-D responses is discussed.