Polyamines – Possibilities for Application to Increase Plant Tolerance and Adaptation Capacity to Stress

Polyamines are plant growth regulators distributed among all plant species. The major polyamines are diamine putrescine, triamine spermidine and tetraamine spermine. Polyamines are involved in a number of growth and developmental processes, as well as in plant responses to a variety of unfavorable factors. Polyamines can stabilize cell constituents and protect macromolecules from free radicals generated by adverse stress agents. Endogenous polyamines could contribute to plant stress tolerance as part of defense mechanisms or adaptation programs that help plant organism to cope with the negative stress consequences. The current review is focused on the latest investigations regarding the possibilities for exogenous polyamine application to increase plant tolerance and adaptation capacity to diverse abiotic impacts including mineral nutrient deficiency, salinity, water stress, heavy metal toxicity, low and high temperature stresses, UV irradiation, ozone, air pollutants and herbicides as well as to biotic stress factors such as infections with fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens and attacks by herbivorous insects.