Endogenous polyamines lessen membrane damages in pea plants provoked by enhanced ultraviolet-C radiation

The effect of low doses (LD)—0.1 kJ m−2 d−1 and high doses (HD)—0.3 kJ m−2 d−1 of UV-C irradiation on free, conjugated and bound spermine, spermidine and putrescine in leaves of young pea plants after 7 and 14 days of consecutive treatment was studied. Free polyamine (PA) fractions increased mainly in LD treated plants, while conjugated fractions decreased. Bound fractions accumulated mainly at the end of the experiment (after 14 days of UV-C irradiation). The results are interpreted in relation to the possible role of endogenous bound PAs in the prevention of membrane damage induced by UV-C irradiation. Stress markers (malondialdehyde and electrolyte leakage) increased after 7 days of UV-C treatment, and reached control values by the end of the experiment (mainly after HD treatment). Malondialdehyde concentration correlated negatively with UV-C—induced bound fraction and total PAs. The results support the conclusion that endogenous PAs lessen membrane damage in young pea plants provoked by UV-C irradiation.