Polyamine Production in Lichens Under Metal Pollution Stress

In the present study, thalli of the lichen species Pseudevernia furfuracea Zopf. and Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. transplanted around an oil-fired power station. Following an exposure of 4 months, trace element concentrations (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) and polyamine (PA) content [putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm)] of thalli were measured to study the polyamines production in lichens under metal pollution stress. The polyamine production was not significantly different for the two species but two types of statistically significant relationships were revealed between polyamines production and metals concentration in lichen thalli: a positive linear relationship for the pairs total PAs–Cd (P. furfuracea), total PAs–Cu (E. prunastri), Put–Pb (E. prunastri), Spm–Pb (E. prunastri) and a second-order polynomial relationship for the pairs Put–Cd (P. furfuracea), Spm–Cr (E. prunastri) and total PAs–V (E. prunastri). A possible involvement of polyamines in metal pollution stress response of lichens is discussed.