Relationship between Endogenous Polyamines and Floral Bud Differentiation in Chrysanthemum morifolium under Short-day Conditions

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between endogenous polyamines (PAs) and floral bud differentiation in chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium). In this study, PA content (free, bound, and conjugated) in apical buds, leaves, and roots changed appreciably during floral bud differentiation. PAs accumulated during series of processes such as floral induction, differentiation of floret primordia, and crown formation in apical buds; changes in PAs in apical buds may have a relationship with those in leaves and roots. The levels of free PAs and conjugated PAs [putrescine (Put) and spermine (Spm)] in apical buds rapidly increased during the initiation stage of floral bud differentiation, while free and conjugated spermidine (Spd) reached their highest levels at the stage of floret primordium differentiation. In the free, conjugated, and bound PA fractions, the changes in Spm content were negligible compared to those of Put and Spd throughout the experiment. These findings indicate that PAs participate in regulating the process of flower bud differentiation in chrysanthemum.