POLYAMINE LEVELS DURING THE ONSET OF CAM IN OPUNTIA-F-INDICA (MILLER)

Polyamines have been related to the ''Crassulacean Acid Metabolism'' (CAM) in higher plants. Such relationship was however observed in plants where CAM activity is inducible by external factors. Results presented here indicate that, in Opuntia F. indica, cladodes where onset of CAM is dependent on internal conditions, i.e. leaf age, the concentration of putrescine increases in parallel to the acidity of the cytoplasm. The parallel increase of putrescine concentration and acidity (malic acid concentration) can be best evaluated during the onset of CAM (young cladodes), while such correlation is not observed in mature cladodes where CAM is already in it's full function. Spermidine and spermine show no correlation with CAM activity neither during the onset of CAM nor during it's full function. However, spermidine levels correlate negatively to CAM activity when cladodes attain > 30 days of age. The results suggest that putrescine in free form could possibly counteract the increase of cellular acidity during onset of CAM in Opuntia F. indica; the possible roles of spermidine are discussed.