RELATIVE CHANGES IN LEVELS OF POLYAMINES AND ACTIVITIES OF THEIR BIOSYNTHETIC ENZYMES IN BARLEY INFECTED WITH THE POWDERY MILDEW FUNGUS, ERYSIPHE GRAMINIS D.C. ex MERAT f.sp. HORDEI MARCHAL

Abstract

The concentrations of three amines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) were much increased in first leaves of barley infected with powdery mildew, whilst the concentrations of putrescine and spermidine in roots of mildewed barley were significantly decreased. Although no significant change in the activities of three polyamine biosynthetic enzymes (ADC, arginine decarboxylase; ODC, ornithine decarboxylase; and SAMDC, S‐adenosyl methionine decarboxylase) could be detected in roots of mildewed barley, the activities of ADC, ODC and SAMDC were increased in infected first leaves. The significance of these alterations in polyamines and their biosynthetic enzymes in mildewed barley is discussed. Copyright © 1985, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved