The Role of Polyamines in Plant Disease Resistance

Abstract

Polyamines (PAs) are small, aliphatic amines that are found in all living cells. In plants, putrescine, spermidine, spermine, and thermospermine are known as ubiquitous PAs. They are involved in various physiological processes and environmental stress responses, including pathogen infections. Several studies have demonstrated that PAs and their catabolic products, such as H 2 O 2 produced by diamine oxidases and polyamine oxidases, are closely involved in the activation of host defense mechanisms. This minireview briefly summarizes recent advances regarding the function of PAs during disease resistance in plants.