Effect of spear removal by cutting on abscisic acid (ABA) level in buds of asparagus spears was investigated. ABA level in buds was determined by an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay after a pre-purification procedure. ABA level in F-buds which included the buds adjacent to stems of cladophylls or spears drastically decreased to 38.0% of the control level at 12 hr after cutting and reached the minimal ABA level of 10.6% of the control at 48 hr after cutting. On the other hand, F-buds started to elongate just 12 hr after cutting and then grew to over 40 mm height in 72 hr. ABA level in S-buds which included the remaining buds also decreased after cutting although no significant elongation of S-buds was observed. Thus, it is assumed that the ABA level in buds drastically decreased by a stimulus or stress of cutting before the buds started to grow.