abscisic acid

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone that plays a crucial role in helping plants respond to stress and regulate growth. It primarily signals plants to conserve water by closing stomata—tiny pores on leaves—during drought conditions. Additionally, ABA helps plants pause or slow growth during stressful times and promotes seed dormancy, ensuring seeds only germinate when conditions are favorable. Essentially, ABA acts as the plant’s internal alarm and management system, helping it survive challenging environments and coordinate growth processes.