PLANT POLYAMINES IN FLOWERING AND FRUIT RIPENING

Aliphatic polyamines are polycationic organic compounds that have been implicated in a wide variety of biological processes. Although, at present, it is difficult to relate any specific polyamine or hydroxycinnamic acid conjugate with the flowering process, some relationship between sexuality and polyamine levels seems certain. Accumulation of polyamines or hydroxycinnamic acid conjugates could be species-specific and may also depend upon the conditions of the culture and parental tissues. Fruiting and endogenous polyamine contents are closely related and polyamine levels seem to be involved in fruit development. Ethylene and polyamines show opposite effects in relation to fruit ripening. A relationship between polyamines and shelf-life of fruits has also been reported.