Resistance to plant pathogens: possible roles for free polyamines and polyamine catabolism

Although most work on polyamines in incompatible interactions between plants and pathogens has focussed on polyamines conjugated to phenolic compounds (hydroxycinnamic acid amides), changes in free polyamines and their catabolism have been shown to occur in such interactions. A common feature of these interactions is an increase in diamine oxidase (DAO) activity and, in some interactions, of polyamine oxidase (PAO). The activities of these two enzymes produces hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ), which may act in structural defense, as a signal molecule, or as an antimicrobial compound in host resistance. There are several possible roles for polyamines and polyamine catabolism in plant resistance to pathogen infection; H₂ O₂ produced might trigger the hypersensitive response (HR), thought to be a form of programmed cell death (PCD), the polyamine spermine might act as an inducer of PR proteins, and as a trigger for caspase activity and hence HR. There is, however, a need for more precise information on the timing and location of changes in polyamine metabolism in the development of resistance. Only with this information can a case be made for the involvement of polyamines and polyamine catabolism in plant defense.