烟气脱硫石膏对滨海农耕土壤磷素形态组成的影响

为探明不同烟气脱硫石膏施用量对滨海农耕土壤中的全磷、有效磷、无机磷组分等的影响,通过田间试验的方式,分别在试验区土壤中施加0t/hm~2、15t/hm~2、30t/hm~2、45t/hm~2烟气脱硫石膏。研究结果表明:与对照组相比,各处理组的土壤全磷含量无显著差异,而土壤中的有效磷和渗滤液中的可溶性磷含量则随着烟气脱硫石膏施入量的增加而降低;施入烟气脱硫石膏后农耕土壤中无机磷含量显著增加,其中又以磷酸钙盐含量的增加为主,磷酸钙盐中的Ca2-P、Ca_8-P和Ca_10-P含量分别增加了30.8%—68.9%、35.2%—66.3%和7.3%—17.8%。烟气脱硫石膏的施用促进了植物的生长发育,有效磷的降低和无机磷组分中磷酸钙盐的增加并未影响到植物对磷素的吸收。因此,烟气脱硫石膏能有效地固定滨海农耕土壤中的溶解态磷,控制土壤过量磷素向水体迁移,降低附近水体富营养化发生的机率,保障区域水体生态系统环境安全。     

桉树与豆科植物混交种植对土壤速效养分的影响

比较了桉树纯林、厚荚相思纯林以及两者的行混交林与株混交林的土壤速效养分特征。结果表明,豆科纯林及行混交林的土壤硝态氮含量显著高于桉林,铵态氮的格局也相似,因而,桉树与豆科植物混交种植可以明显改善土壤氮素营养。土壤速效磷含量以桉纯林最高,不同季节速效磷含量以豆科林最低,含磷较高的桉树枯落物及其分解是桉林地表土壤速效磷较高的重要原因;而豆科植物产生的高氮土壤条件导致整个林分较快的生长,造成植物氮磷平衡失调,并由此增加了对土壤速效磷的吸收,从而导致豆科林土壤速效磷较低。不同林型土壤速效钾差别不大,豆科林土壤小幅度高于其它林型,而不同林型土壤速效硼含量也差别不大,但豆科林土壤小幅度低于其它林型,这可能是豆科林对钾与硼的需要与影响不同所致;在植物栽种后不久,土壤速效硼迅速下降至极低水平,然后逐年大幅度上升,这可能是植物从深层吸收土壤硼并通过凋落物转移至表土的效应;结果也显示,造林初期有必要施用适当硼肥。     

CO_2浓度升高对转Bt水稻生理指标的影响

通过OTC试验研究了生长60和120 d的转Bt水稻克螟稻及其对照亲本秀水11在2种CO2浓度(375、750μL·L-1)处理下的生理变化。结果表明:叶绿素a、叶绿素b、叶绿素a+b、可溶性蛋白含量以及谷氨酰胺合成酶活力等均随水稻生长而显著提高,游离氨基酸含量随水稻生长而显著下降,叶绿素a/b值在高CO2浓度下显著增加;CO2浓度升高会引起水稻组织含水量、叶绿素a和c含量显著降低,叶绿素b含量呈先增加后降低的趋势;同时,可溶性蛋白含量显著下降,游离氨基酸含量显著增加,谷氨酰胺合成酶活性初期变化不显著、后期显著降低;转Bt水稻及其对照亲本之间可溶性蛋白含量和谷氨酰胺合成酶活力差异显著,但叶绿素和游离氨基酸含量差异不显著;与亲本相比,不同CO2浓度处理下克螟稻的谷氨酰胺合成酶活力显著降低。     

广东鹤山火烧迹地植被恢复后土壤养分含量变化

采用对比分析方法,研究了广东鹤山桉林和灌草坡火烧迹地植被恢复后土壤养分含量的变化.结果表明：火烧3年后,桉林土壤有机碳、全氮、速效钾和pH含量明显降低,土壤有效磷、交换性镁、土壤净氮矿化速率和氨化速率降低,但不显著;火烧灌草坡除土壤交换性钙明显增加外,其他土壤养分均无显著变化.火烧桉林氮矿化速率较低的主要原因是其可利用基质的减少和桉树快速生长吸收大量养分所致,火烧灌草坡土壤养分的恢复速度较快.     

广东樟木头5种桉树的能量特征研究

对广东省东莞市樟木头林场5种6 a生巨桉(Eucalyptus grandis)、柳桉(E.saligna)、大花序桉(E.cloeziana)、粗皮桉(E.pellita)和托里桉(E.torelliana)的能量特征进行研究.结果表明:5种桉树不同组分的灰分含量和热值存在显著差异(P<0.01).灰分含量为0.16%-8.37%,其中巨桉、柳桉、粗皮桉和托里桉均是叶>皮>枝>根>干,而大花序桉为皮>叶>枝>根>干;各组分的干重热值为15.12-18.85 kJ g~(-1),均以叶最高、皮最低,巨桉与粗皮桉为叶>枝>干>根>皮;柳桉与托里桉为叶>干>枝>根>皮;大花序桉为叶>枝>根>干>皮;去灰分热值为16.37～19.87 kJ g~(-1),除粗皮桉为叶>枝>皮>干>根外,其它4种各组分的去灰分热值均与干重热值的变化趋势相同.5种桉树的平均干重热值和去灰分热值分别以巨桉、粗皮桉最高,但均以托里桉最低.     

蚯蚓活动对土壤氨基酸组分及含量的影响

通过室内培养试验,研究了赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia foetida)和威廉环毛蚓(Metaphire guillelmi)对土壤氨基酸组分及含量的影响,并探讨了两种不同生活型蚯蚓作用效果的异同。结果表明:蚯蚓活动可显著改变土壤氨基酸含量,爱胜蚓作用下土壤酸解氨基酸和游离氨基酸分别增加5.08 g/kg和7.72 mg/kg,环毛蚓作用下土壤酸解氨基酸和游离氨基酸分别增加3.86 g/kg和4.44mg/kg。各处理酸解氨基酸均以中性氨基酸所占比例为最大(平均51.9%),酸性氨基酸次之(平均23.3%),而含硫氨基酸(平均14.4%)及碱性氨基酸最少(平均10.4%)。各处理游离氨基酸同样以中性氨基酸为主,平均54.4%,而以碱性氨基酸含量最少,平均仅为7.2%。蚯蚓活动并未改变土壤氨基酸可检出种类,各处理分别检测出16种酸解氨基酸和14种游离氨基酸。土壤酸解氨基酸和游离氨基酸组分含量在蚯蚓作用下均有明显改变:加入爱胜蚓后土壤酸解氨基酸组分中天冬氨酸、精氨酸、甲硫氨酸、丙氨酸、赖氨酸和甘氨酸增幅较高,均在85.7%以上,缬氨酸、苏氨酸、丝氨酸、谷氨酸、亮氨酸、酪氨酸和组氨酸增幅较小在40.7%—62.7%间波动;加入环毛蚓后土壤酸解氨基酸组分中甲硫氨酸、赖氨酸、天冬氨酸、酪氨酸和丙氨酸增幅较大,均在71.9%以上,甘氨酸、精氨酸、异亮氨酸增幅适中,分别为56.8%、55.6%和54.9%;丝氨酸、亮氨酸、苏氨酸、谷氨酸、组氨酸和苯丙氨酸增幅最小,均在40%以下;游离氨基酸组分中组氨酸、精氨酸、甘氨酸、亮氨酸、异亮氨酸和丙氨酸在加入爱胜蚓后增加的幅度较大,增幅在150.0%以上,增幅较为缓和的氨基酸组分有天冬氨酸、苏氨酸、丝氨酸、缬氨酸、谷氨酸和苯丙氨酸,介于58.8%—92.1%之间;环毛蚓作用下,天冬氨酸、精氨酸、丝氨酸和异亮氨酸增幅最大,分别为184.2%、173.3%、163.0%和116.6%;苏氨酸、亮氨酸、缬氨酸和甘氨酸增幅较缓,介于52.3%—92.7%之间;谷氨酸、组氨酸、苯丙氨酸、丙氨酸和甲硫氨酸增幅较低,均在33.1%之下;而半胱氨酸在蚯蚓作用下显著降低,降幅为11.8%。对比两种生活型蚯蚓作用效果可知,土壤氨基酸总含量及各组分含量在爱胜蚓和环毛蚓作用下的增加或减少趋势相同(土壤酸解氨基酸组分缬氨酸除外),但改变幅度却存在明显差异,总体而言,爱胜蚓作用效果优于环毛蚓。     

连栽对尾巨桉短周期人工林碳贮量的影响

对广西国有东门林场不同连栽代数尾巨桉(Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis) 短周期人工林生态系统碳贮量开展研究,旨在阐明短周期桉树人工林连栽对生态系统各组分(土壤、凋落物、林下植物和乔木)的碳含量、碳贮量及其分配格局的影响.结果表明:(1)尾巨桉短周期人工林生态系统同一层次的同一器官(或组分)碳含量因连栽代次和林龄不同存在差异,但差异不显著(p＞0.05);而不同层次和不同器官(或组分)碳含量的差异极显著(p＜0.01),表明人工林生态系统的物种组成及其特性对碳含量的影响更显著.(2)7.6a尾巨桉连栽林分的碳贮量平均为127.649 t · hm-2,比第1代(134.411 t · hm-2)低5.03%,差异不显著(p＞0.05);两类林分碳贮量的空间分布序列均表现为土壤层＞乔木层＞凋落物层＞林下植物层.(3)两类林分各组份的碳含量和碳贮量均随着林龄的增加而增加.(4)连栽对乔木层和凋落物层的碳贮量影响较小,但具有降低林下植被和土壤碳贮量的作用.短周期桉树人工林连栽采取的采伐林木、炼山清理、机耕全垦整地等措施对林地的反复干扰是导致林下植被和土壤碳贮量下降的主要原因.     

氮素形态对小白菜生长和碳氮积累的影响

水培条件下,研究不同氮素形态(硝态氮、铵态氮、甘氨酸、谷氨酰胺、丙氨酸、牛血清蛋白,以及甘氨酸与硝态氮、牛血清蛋白与硝态氮的混合氮源)对小白菜生长和碳氮积累的影响.结果表明:不同氮素形态对小白菜质量、碳氮积累量、可溶性蛋白质含量、可溶性糖含量和游离氨基酸含量的影响不同;硝态氮处理下小白菜地上部分和根的干质量与鲜质量均最大;甘氨酸对小白菜根系的生长及碳氮积累具有明显的促进作用;在3种氨基酸中,谷氨酰胺更有利于小白菜地上部分的生长和氮积累.聚类分析表明,9种氮素形态处理按营养效应大小分为:硝态氮、谷氨酰胺＞甘氨酸与硝态氮混合氮源、牛血清蛋白与硝态氮混合氮源、甘氨酸、铵态氮＞丙氨酸、牛血清蛋白、对照.有机氮源可以作为小白菜生长的氮源,不同的氮素形态对植物产生的生理效应不同.     

尾巨桉DH3229幼苗对硝普钠-酸铝互作的响应

该研究以广西林业科学研究院提供的尾巨桉DH3229幼苗为材料,以分析纯AlCl3·6H2O为铝(Al)的供体,以硝普钠(SNP)为一氧化氮(NO)的供体,设置3个SNP浓度(0、10、500μmol·L~(-1))和2个Al水平(0、5 mmol·L~(-1)),每5 d浇一次含不同浓度Al和SNP的营养液,持续20周,分析Al胁迫对幼苗生长生理特性的影响,并探讨不同浓度外源SNP施加对植物Al毒害有无缓解作用及其缓解机理。结果表明:Al施加能显著降低尾巨桉DH3229幼苗的生物量、叶片叶绿素a、总叶绿素含量、叶绿素a/b值和可溶性糖含量;Al胁迫显著增加幼苗相对电导率、MDA、SOD、游离脯氨酸含量。外源施加适量(10μmol·L~(-1))的SNP能使Al胁迫下桉树幼苗根和叶等生物量、叶片叶绿素含量以及Chl a/b显著提高,同时降低其相对电导率、MDA含量和游离脯氨酸含量。可见,SNP具有双重性,适量SNP施加可有效缓解Al对桉树生长的胁迫,高浓度(500μmol·L~(-1)) SNP则产生硝化胁迫从而抑制桉树的生长。     

兴安落叶松游离氨基酸的动态变化与损伤因子的关系

为研究不同损伤因子及其不同损伤程度对落叶松游离氨基酸组分及其含量的影响,用剪叶和落叶松毛虫(Dendrolimussuperans)取食损伤兴安落叶松(Larixgmelinii)幼苗,使用HPLC柱前AccQ.Tag衍生法测定针叶内游离氨基酸的组成及含量的变化。结果表明,松针中含有17种游离氨基酸,以苯丙氨酸含量最高,损伤15d后,剪叶4枝比对照增加36.6%,虫害4枝增加的百分率达到98.3%。剪叶4枝15d后及虫害4枝5d后,损伤25%与50%之间氨基酸总含量差异显著(P0.05),且昆虫取食4枝25%、50%、75%后松针内游离氨基酸总含量的变化趋势与剪叶处理后总氨基酸含量的变化一致,均在处理10d后呈现较高的含量,虽虫害后的氨基酸总含量高于剪叶损伤后的总含量,但二者之间差异不显著。剪叶4枝、8枝、12枝3个损伤程度后针叶内的游离氨基酸含量无显著差异,说明剪叶4枝即能超过落叶松的耐受阈值,达到防御诱导效应。两种处理下多种游离氨基酸的含量均有下降,其中8种氨基酸含量存在显著差异(P0.05),即丝氨酸、谷氨酸、甘氨酸、组氨酸、脯氨酸、半胱氨酸、赖氨酸和苯丙氨酸。表明人工模拟剪叶的损伤方式与虫害都可诱导松树氨基酸组分及含量的变化,而间接影响害虫的生长发育。     

Effects of phosphorus supply on growth and nitrogen fractions in xylem sap and foliage of Eucalyptus regnans (F.Muell.), E. nitens (Maiden) and E. globulus (Labill.) seedlings: implications for herbivory

Rates of growth of seedlings of E. globulus, E. regnans and E. nitens were related to phosphorus supply in two soils but concentrations of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in most plant tissues did not vary significantly among soil or phosphorus treatments. Differences in concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus and in the composition of the pool of free amino-acids among leaves at different stages of development were far greater than differences between treatments. The most significant of these differences were several-fold greater concentrations of arginine in the oldest leaves and these are most likely due to protein degradation and/or in situ synthesis since arginine is not generally phloem mobile. The concentration of reduced nitrogen in xylem sap was inversely related to growth and glutamine was by far the dominant nitrogenous solute. We suggest that specific nitrogenous solutes may be useful indices of the nitrogen status of eucalypt tissues for insect herbivores.     

Relationships between feeding of Philaenus spumarius (L.) and the amino acid concentration in the xylem sap

Summary. 1. P.spwnarius nymphs selected young, upper leaves of Xanthium strumarium plants, which have a relatively high amino acid concentration in the xylem sap.
2. Nymphs selected or rejected a host leaf as a feeding site after a test ingestion of plant sap.
3. Nymphs fed on detached leaves kept with their petioles in a solution of amino acids, in preference to leaves with petioles in a solution containing no amino acids.
4. Nymphs caged on leaves with relatively high amino acid concentrations in the xylem sap suffered a lower mortality after 7 days than nymphs caged on leaves with low amino acid concentrations in the xylem sap.
5. Mean excretory rate increased with the increase in the amino acid concentration in the xylem sap for third and fourth instar nymphs, and adults, but not in fifth instars.     

Dependence of amino acid composition upon nitrogen availability in birch (Betula pendula)

Small birch plants ( Betula pendula Roth .) were grown at different rates of exponentially increasing nitrogen supply. This resulted in plants with different relative growth rates and different internal nitrogen concentrations. Within a nitrogen treatment, both of these variables remained constant with time.
Free amino acids were measured in leaves and roots of the seedlings at two different harvests. At greater nitrogen supply, higher concentrations of total amino acid nitrogen were found in roots and leaves. The ratio of amino acid nitrogen to total nitrogen was low albeit greater at higher nitrogen supply. Higher concentrations of amino acid nitrogen were mainly due to high concentrations of citrulline, glutamine, γ-aminobuitric acid and arginine.
Greater leaf concentrations of amino acid nitrogen at higher nitrogen supply may be related lo increased concentrations in the xylem sap and/or may be indicative of small excesses of nitrogen with respect to current nitrogen usage in protein synthesis.     

Changes in the amide and amino acid composition of xylem exudate from perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) during regrowth after defoliation

The paper presents the results of amino acid analyses in xylem sap during leaf regrowth of ryegrass plants defoliated firstly at the 8th and secondly at the 12th week of culture. The free amino acid composition of leaves, stubble and roots was also determined and some of the results are reported. Prior to defoliation, xylem sap contained a high proportion of amides, particularly glutamine. During regrowth after defoliation, the proportion of asparagine in the xylem sap increased until the third day when the highest ratios of asparagine/glutamine appeared. The results are compared with relative amounts of free amino acids in the different plant parts and discussed in relation to source-sink nitrogen transfer.     

Variations in the amino acid composition of xylem sap of Betula pendula Roth. trees due to remobilization of stored N in the spring

Seasonal patterns of N translocation in the xylem sap of Betula pendula were studied, to determine whether specific amino acids were recovered in spring as a consequence of N remobilization. Seedlings were grown in sand culture and provided with ¹⁵NH₄¹⁵NO₃ (at 2·2 atom percent excess) for one growing season. The following winter dormant trees were transplanted into fresh sand and given N at natural abundance thereafter. Destructive harvests were taken during bud burst and leaf growth to determine the pattern of ¹⁵N remobilization and N uptake, along with isolation of xylem sap for analysis of their amino acid profiles and ¹⁵N enrichment by GC-MS. ¹⁵N remobilization occurred immediately following bud burst, while N derived from root uptake did not appear in the leaves until 12 d after bud burst. During N remobilization there was a 10-fold increase in the concentration of N in the xylem sap, due predominantly to increases in citrulline and glutamine. The ¹⁵N enrichment of these two amino acids demonstrated the increase in their concentration in the xylem sap following bud burst was due to N remobilization. These results are discussed in relation to measuring N remobilization and storage capacity of trees in the field.     

Xylella fastidiosa disturbs nitrogen metabolism and causes a stress response in sweet orange Citrus sinensis cv. Pera

Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is a fastidious bacterium that grows exclusively in the xylem of several important crop species, including grape and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osb.) causing Pierce disease and citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), respectively. The aim of this work was to study the nitrogen metabolism of a highly susceptible variety of sweet orange cv. 'Pêra' (C. sinensis L. Osbeck) infected with Xf. Plants were artificially infected and maintained in the greenhouse until they have developed clear disease symptoms. The content of nitrogen compounds and enzymes of the nitrogen metabolism and proteases in the xylem sap and leaves of diseased (DP) and uninfected healthy (HP) plants was studied. The activity of nitrate reductase in leaves did not change in DP, however, the activity of glutamine synthetase was significantly higher in these leaves. Although amino acid concentration was slightly higher in the xylem sap of DP, the level dropped drastically in the leaves. The protein contents were lower in the sap and in leaves of DP. DP and HP showed the same amino acid profiles, but different proportions were observed among them, mainly for asparagine, glutamine, and arginine. The polyamine putrescine was found in high concentrations only in DP. Protease activity was higher in leaves of DP while, in the xylem sap, activity was detected only in DP. Bidimensional electrophoresis showed a marked change in the protein pattern in DP. Five differentially expressed proteins were identified (2 from HP and 3 from DP), but none showed similarity with the genomic (translated) and proteomic database of Xf, but do show similarity with the proteins thaumatin, mucin, peroxidase, ABC-transporter, and strictosidine synthase. These results showed that significant changes take place in the nitrogen metabolism of DP, probably as a response to the alterations in the absorption, assimilation and distribution of N in the plant.     

Abscisic acid concentration,root pH and anatomy do not explain growth differences of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) on acid and alkaline soils

The ABA concentrations of leaves, roots, soils and transport fluids of chickpea and lupin plants growing in acid (pH=4.8) and alkaline (pH=8.0) soils and an acid soil with an alkaline subsoil and an alkaline soil with an acid subsoil were measured with the aim of explaining the poor growth of narrow-leafed lupins in alkaline soil. The ABA concentration in the leaves was higher in lupin than chickpea, but did not differ when the plants were grown in alkaline compared to acid soil. The ABA concentration of the roots and xylem sap of lupin did not differ significantly when grown in acid or alkaline soil. Chickpea roots and xylem sap had, however, lower ABA concentrations in acid soil. The ABA concentration in the soil solution was higher in the acid than in the alkaline soil. Roots of lupin and chickpea showed no suberization of the hypodermis or exodermis whether grown aeroponically or hydroponically and the pH of the cytoplasm did not change significantly when root cells of lupin and chickpea were exposed to external pHs of 4.8 or 8.0. The chickpea roots had greater suberization of the endodermal cells adjacent to radial xylem rays and maintained a slightly higher vacuolar pH than lupin in both acid and alkaline external media, but these small differences are insufficient to explain the reductions in lupin growth in alkaline soil.     

Copper uptake and translocation in chicory (Cichorium intybus L. cv Grasslands Puna) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv Rondy) plants grown in NFT system. II. The role of nicotianamine and histidine in xylem sap copper transport

The effect of rooting media Cu concentration (0.05–20 mg Cu L^-1) on amino acid concentrations and copper speciation in the xylem sap of chicory and tomato plants was measured using 6 week old plants grown in a nutrient film technique system (NFT). Irrespective of the Cu concentration in the nutrient solutions, more than 99.68% and 99.74% of total Cu in tomato and chicory xylem sap was in a bound form. When exposed to high Cu concentrations in the rooting media, amino acid concentrations in the sap increased. Relative to other amino acids, the concentrations of glutamine (Gln), histidine (His), asparagine (Asn), valine (Val), nicotianamine (NA) and proline (Pro) in tomato xylem saps, and His, γ-aminobutyric acid (Gaba), glutamic acid (Glu), leucine (Leu), NA and phenylalanine (Phe) in chicory xylem saps showed the greatest increases. The data indicate that induced synthesis of some free amino acids as a specific and proportional response to Cu treatment. For a single complexation amino acid, the solution Cu²⁺concentration vs pH titration curve for NA at 0.06–0.07 mM was most similar, closely followed by His at 0.5–0.6 mM, to the solution Cu²⁺concentration behaviour in both tomato and chicory xylem sap. It is concluded that increased Cu concentrations in the rooting media induced selective synthesis of certain amino acid which include NA, His, Asn and Gln which have high stability constants with Cu. NA and His have the highest binding constants for Cu and the concentrations of NA and His in chicory and tomato xylem saps can account for all the bound Cu carried in the sap. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of Varied Phosphorus Supply on Growth and Xylem Sap Cytokinin Level of Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) Seedlings

Effects of varying levels of phosphorus (P) on sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) growth and on the endogenous cytokinin levels in the xylem sap were tested. The seedlings were grown in aerated nutrient solutions in the greenhouse. Photoperiod was held constant at 16 hours. Four P concentrations, 0.02, 0.10, 0.50, and 2 mm, were used. There were no P deficiency symptoms even at the lowest P concentration. The maximum growth occurred in seedlings grown in 0.10 mm P. The greatest dry matter yield as well as stem height, stem diameter, and leaf area were produced at 0.10 or 0.50 mm P. The amount of cytokinin in xylem sap for each harvest during P nutrition followed closely the dry matter values, stem height, stem diameter, and leaf area.     

Long-distance translocation of polyamines in phloem and xylem of Ricinus communis L. plants

Polyamine content and enzyme activities in the biosynthetic and degradative pathways of polyamine metabolism were investigated in sieve-tube sap, xylem sap and tissues of seedlings and adult plants of Ricinus communis L. Polyamines were present in tissues and translocation fluids of both seedlings and adult plants in relatively high amounts. Only free polyamines were translocated through the plant, as indicated by the finding that only the free form was detected in the phloem and the xylem sap. Removal of the endosperm increased the polyamine content in the sieve-tube exudate of seedlings. The level and pattern of polyamines in tissue of adult leaves changed during leaf age, but not, however, in the sieve-tube sap. Xylem sap was relatively poor in polyamines. Polyamine loading in the phloem was demonstrated by incubating cotyledons with [¹⁴O]putrescine and several unlabelled polyamines. Feeding cotyledons with cadaverine and spermidine led to a decrease in the level of putrescine in sieve-tube sap, indicating a competitive effect. Comparison of polyamine content in the tissue and export rate showed that the export would deplete the leaves of polyamines within 1–3 d, if they were not replenished by biosynthesis. Polyamine biosynthesis in Ricinus proceeds mostly via arginine decarboxylase, which in vitro is 100-fold more active than ornithine decarboxylase. The highest arginine decarboxylase, ornithine decarboxylase and diamine oxidase activities were detected in cotyledons, while in sieve-tube sap only a slight arginine decarboxylase activity was found. Received: 18 March 1997 / Accepted: 20 August 1997