Endogenous ABA and batatasins were first quantified in the stored tubers and bulbils of the Chinese yam, Dioscorea opposita Thunb. cv. 'Tsukune' by GC-MS with comparison of internal standard, and sugar content was also analyzed by HPLC with comparison of external standard. Endogenous ABA content in stored tubers and bulbils was rapidly decreased as storage period prolonged. ABA content of the bulbils was always higher than that of tuber during storage periods. All batatasins of stored tubers and bulbils at 30 days after storage decreased steadily compared to 120 days after storage. On the contrary, batatasin-Ⅲ of the stored tuber and bulbils was only decreased at 60 days after storage. In Dioscorea opposita Thunb. cv. 'Tsukune' like D. japonica, D. alata, and D. bulbifera, may be controlled by endogenous batatasins and ABA, In these compounds, batatasins rather than ABA might be closely related to dormancy-inducing compound during dormancy of the Chinese yam, Dioscorea opposita Thunb. cv. Tsukune.

The study was conducted to find the critical concentrations of zinc toxicity and to determine the changes of the contents of free proline and organic acids with treatment of different zinc chloride concentrations during rice germination and seedlings grown for seven days. The concentration of zinc chloride, 140 ppm, inhibited root elongation as much as 46 times compared with the control, and the germination rate was also decreased in all treatments of zinc chloride, showing that the germination rate decreased more with increasing concentrations of zinc chloride. Its rate was only 13% with treatment of 140 ppm zinc chloride. The content of free proline with treatment of zinc chloride, 140 ppm, was highest about 4,873 ~mu M at 3 days compared with the control. Malic acid concentration with treatment of zinc chloride, 140 ppm, increased to approximately 4 times compared to the control. Citric and succinic acid content were also slightly increased in all treatments of zinc chloride