CHANGES IN POLYAMINE TITER IN RICE SEEDLINGS FOLLOWING NACL SALINITY STRESS

Seedlings of four rice cultivars differing in salt tolerance were raised in sand cultures under increasing levels of NaCl salinity and metabolic levels of total polyamines, spermidine, spermine, agmatine and the diamine putrescine were determined in roots and shoots during 5‐20 days growth period. Salinity caused a remarkable increase in total polyamines level in rice seedlings. At similar level of salinity roots as well as shoots of salt sensitive cvs. Ratna and Jaya showed higher level of total polyamines than tolerants. Salinity of 14 dSm−1 NaCl caused more than 2 times polyamine level in shoots of sensitive cultivars compared to tolerants. Accumulation of polyamines was greater in salt stressed shoots than roots. In nonsalinized seedlings there appeared a gradual increase in putrescine level during 5 to 20 days growth period. Salt treatment caused sharp increase in putrescine level in all cultivars, however under similar level of salinization salt stressed seedlings of sensitive cultivars had higher putrescine level than tolerants. In nonsalinized seedlings of sensitive cultivars spermidine level increased gradually during 5 to 20 days growth period whereas a decline in the level was observed in seedlings of tolerant cultivars during this period. Higher level of salinity caused marked increase in spermidine level in sensitive cultivars. Specially during 5 to 10 days of growth salinity caused increase in spermine level in seedlings of sensitive cultivars. In all cultivars salt stressed seedlings had higher agmatine level compared to non‐stressed. Salinity led to greater accumulation of certain unidentified polyamines in seedlings of sensitive cultivars. Increased levels of total polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and unknown polyamines in rice seedlings under salinization suggest their possible role in combating the adverse effects of salinity stress. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved