Formation of putrescine from ornithine and arginine in tobacco plants

Putrescine was formed when both DL-ornithine-2-¹⁴C and L-arginine-U-¹⁴Cwere injected into tobacco plants. The incorporation rate ofthese amino acids into putrescine was higher in potassium orsulfur deficient plants than in normal plants. Degradation ofputrescine-1,4-¹⁴C injected into tobacco plants was inhibitedby a potassium or sulfur deficiency. Increased accumulationof putrescine in potassium or sulfur deficient plants may bepartly dependent upon this inhibition in the degradation ofputrescine. Detached leaves and roots were also able to formputrescine from DL-ornithine-2-¹⁴C and L-arginine-U-¹⁴C. (Received December 13, 1968; )