Abscisic acid mutants affect polyamine metabolism

ABSTRACT

Flacca, tomato mutant in which the last step of ABA biosynthesis is blocked, displays changes both in polyamine content (especially the ratio between free and conjugated forms) and in ornithine-, arginine- and S- adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activities. Arginine decarboxylase activity is higher compared to that of ornithine decarboxylase especially in older plants (seven internode stage), being on line with its regulatory role. However this activity is not sufficient to justify the polyamine content, in particular of conjugated forms (disappearance of TCA-insoluble conjugates and dramatic decrease of TCA-soluble ones). These results are in favour of a multifunctional competition of many responses to hormone action.