Effect of spermine on proliferation of hyphae ofGlomus fistulosum, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, in maize roots

Effects of two oligoamines, putrescine and spermine, on proliferation of intraradical hyphae in surface disinfected root segments were studied under axenic conditionsin vitro. No significant effects of putrescine were observed. Spermine significantly stimulated hyphal growth at a concentration of about 1.5 μmol/L. High concentration (>150 μmol/L) caused a strong inhibition of hyphal growth and of the percentage of root segments bearing proliferating hyphae.dl-α-difluoromethylornithine, a metabolic inhibitor of polyamine synthesis, caused a significant inhibition of proliferation of the hyphae only in the presence of 2 μmol/L spermine.