Polyamines in response to artificial water stress in ground nut seedlings

The groundnut seeds of different varieties in each habit group i.e. bunch, spreading and semi-spreading were germinated for 15 days. Irrespective of habit groups total polyamines level in root and shoot varied from 2.5 to 4.9 μmol/g fw and 2.8 to 4.6 μmol/g fw, respectively. In each habit group, roots of GG-2 (bunch), G-13 (spreading) and G-20 (semi-spreading) had greater amount of total polyamines. In shoot similar results were obtained except that among spreading varieties instead of G-13, M-13 had higher concentration of total polyamines. Artificial stress (PEG 6000) treatment caused increase in total polyamine levels of both root and shoot tissues but the increase varied from variety to variety. Putrescine application just before PEG stress prevented the fall in tissue moisture content in water deficit seedlings.