STUDIES ON THE CORRELATION OF PUTRESCINE AND POTASSIUM CONTENTS IN THE NEEDLES OF SPRUCE TREES

摘要

The correlation between the polyamine putrescine and the nutritional element potassium was examined in Picea abies trees at numerous natural stands in Germany. The amounts of potassium and putrescine in needles was analyzed and a linear negative correlation between the K+ and putrescine contents was found, which is significant in the bulk of all stands as well as in subsets. The negative correlation becomes even more pronounced when only sites situated over 600 m with trees older than 60 years are included. While former investigations were concerned with experimental conditions of potassium concentrations in soil or nutrient solutions, the data presented here derive from natural habitats mostly within the range of potassium not defected by deficiency and addresses amounts in needles. The reciprocal relationship of potassium and putrescine concentrations in needles is confirmed even beyond the K+ deficiency limit.