Polyamine response in potato cells adapted to low water potential

Suspension cultured potato celIs after long-term (adapted) or brief (shocked) exposure to low water potential imposed by 20% PEG 8000 displayed an altered polyamine pattern and metabolism. In adapted celIs, conjugate putrescine in the PCA-insoluble fraction accumulated more than l3-fold and putrescine biosynthetic capacity (arginine and omithine decarboxylase activities) increased approx. 3 times while in shocked cells, free and PCA- soluble conjugated putrescine decrease sensibly compared with control celIs.