POLYAMINE METABOLISM IN NORMAL AND STERILE CHRYSANTHEMUM-MORIFOLIUM

In normal and sterile Chrysanthemum plants (Chrysanthemum marifolium) polyamine conjugate appeared in the apical meristem before the first observable transformation of the meristem into floral structures. These compounds accumulated upon floral initial and well before floral evocation. In fertile plants (C. morifolium v. Epidote) spermidine conjugates were predominant during floral initiation whereas in male-sterile plants (C. morifolium v. Jericho) only putrescine conjugates were detected. In both cases ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is involved in regulating floral initiation in normal and male-sterile plants. The male-sterile flowers can be distinguished by their lack of free aromatic amines and aromatic amine conjugates. In fertile flowers diamine oxide (DAO) followed the same pattern as ODC. In male-sterile flowers DAO activity did not parallel the increase in ODC activity.