• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.350-359
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• 1993

The effect of gibberellic acid ($GA_3) and abscisic acid (ABA) on KCl-enhanced proteolysis of senescing leaves of rice(Oryza sativa L. cv. Chilsung) was studied. Emphasis was given to their effects on KCI-enhanced efflux of amino acids and proteinase activity. When treated singly, $GA_3 affected leaf proteolysis little, while ABA increased proteolysis, the rate of amino acid efflux, and ribulose -1,5 -bisphosphate carboxylase / oxygenase (Rubisco)-degrading endoproteinase activity. An additive increase in all three parameters mentioned above was observed when leaves were treated with ABA and KCl. No such an additive effect was found when $GA_3 was treated with KCl. Both $GA_3 and ABA helped to alleviate the KCI-suppressed activity of Rubisco-degrading exoproteinases. The additive increase in proteolysis of rice leaves in the presence of both ABA and KCl could thus be ascribed to a further increase in the efflux of protein hydrolyzates and Rubisco-degrading endoproteinase activity. An increase in proteolysis was accompanied by a decrease in water absorption, and the combined treatment of ABA with KCl resulted in a further reduction of water absorption.