Fu , your question is good , but unfortunately little is understood about this very important subject . I am considering ABA as abscissic acid . ABA is considered as a stress signal harmone ( Several transcription factors are known to positively regulate ABA induced gene expression ) , that moves in bimodal pattern , from root to shoot and vice-versa. Where does it come from . One strong hypothesis is ( For xylem transport via roots to shoots ) when soil moisture depletes below 50% of field capacity( Root tip concentrates maximum ABA since they have low vacuolization and high cytosol) , while another hypothesis ( For phloem transport via leaves to roots ) induced by P-deficiency , salt stress , excess N-fertilization 9 Preferably biuret toxicity etc. High affinity and low affinity Mn-transoport for Mn-efficient barley genotypes have been reported ( DOI: 10.114/pp.104.900177). find below one interesting PDF about the origin of ABA.