Abstract: | Putrescine, spermidine, and spermine content were analysed inzygotic embryos of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Changes in polyaminecontent were observed during zygotic embryo growth. In two cultivars,Bomi and Golden Promise, the totalpolyamine content in the embryos was 2.62.9 nmol mg1fresh weight 10 d after anthesis, the highest content observed.It dropped to 1.3 nmol mg1 fresh weight 14 d after anthesis.This drop was caused by decreases in all three polyamine concentrations.From 14 to 35 d after anthesis the putrescine content continuedto decrease while the spermidine and spermine content increased,thus the total polyamine content remained constant until 35d after anthesis. The mutant Ris? 1508 showeda constant polyamine content around 1.3 nmol mg1 freshweight from 14 to 35 d after anthesis. The polyamine patternwas conserved in all three lines throughout the period of investigationshowing a spermidine content higher than putrescine contentwhich was, in turn, higher or equal to the spermine content.The polyamine content measured as nmol µg1 proteindecreased from 14 to 21 d post anthesis in all three lines,because the protein content (µg mg1 fresh weight)increased during the period. In dedifferentiating zygotic embryoscultured in vitro the putrescine content (nmol mg1 freshweight) rose by a factor of nine and the spermidine contentdoubled within the first week of cultivation, whereas sperminecontent did not change. For embryoderived calli a repeated patternof change in polyamine content was observed throughout the subculturingperiod. Key words: Polyamines, Hordeum vulgare L., embryo development |