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Effects of Polyamines on Chlorophyll and Protein Content, Photochemical Activity, and Chloroplast Ultrastructure of Barley Leaf Discs during Senescence ¹

^a Department of Plant Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3 Canada

The polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine prevent the loss of chlorophyll normally associated with senescence of excised leaf tissue maintained in darkness on water (control). Retention of chlorophyll in barley leaf discs was in the range of 90% 4 days after excision and placement on effective polyamine solutions. In contrast, the loss of soluble protein was hastened with 0.5 millimolar spermidine and spermine treatments but it was retarded by 0.5 millimolar putrescine.

Photosystem I and II activities of chloroplasts from polyamine-treated leaf discs declined more rapidly as compared to the control. Chloroplast ultrastructural changes resulting from the polyamine treatments included the apparent destruction of the envelope, preservation of thylakoid membrane structure, and reduced accumulation of osmiophilic bodies. The influence of polyamines on senescence-related processes may be due to their cationic nature.

³ To whom reprint requests should be addressed.

¹ This research was supported by a grant to Saul Zalik from the National Research Council of Canada.

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