EFFECT OF K+ IONS ON POLYAMINE LEVELS IN WHEAT SEEDLINGS UNDER ANOXIA

Four-day-old seedlings of Triticum aestivum L. cv. Marinat were incuba ted in anaerobic conditions in the presence or absence of KCl. The exo genous supply of K+ increased the concentration of the ion inside the tissues. In the absence of KCl, anoxia led to a decrease in putrescine , spermidine and spermine levels. The presence of K+ ions during the a naerobic treatment abolished the negative effect of anoxia on polyamin e titers and slightly increased them. The presence of K+ in anaerobic conditions stimulated the incorporation of label from C-14-arginine in to C-14-putrescine. The administration of K+ ions during 6.5 h of anox ia enhanced the survival of wheat seedlings to the stress. The role of K+ in ion balancing in relation to stress tolerance is discussed.