Poliaminas: Biosíntesis, metabolismo y su papel en la maduración y manipulación postrecolección de frutos / Polyamines: Biosynthesis, metabolism, and their role in ripening and postharvest handling of fruits

Abstract

Plant polyamines (PAs) are involved in many growth and developmental processes, including several organs such as flowers, leaves and roots. However, behavior of PAs is different in fruits compared with other plant organs. Thus, the concentrations of PAs have been observed to change during development and ripening, though their changing patterns depend on the fruit and the maturity stage. PAs have been related to several types of stress, including, among others, chilling injury, saline stress, modified atmospheres, and mechanical stress. However, whether increased putz-esane concentration is a protective mechanism or whether it is the cause of the stress-induced injury remains unclear. Mechanical stress can be observed in fruits when they are exposed to compression, impact and/or vibration during handling and packaging lines. There is some evidence to support the hypothesis that PAs could also play an important role in this stress; however, there is a lack of information about changes in concentration of endogenous PAs. This paper reviews the role of PAs during some physiological processes affecting fruit ripening and postharvest life. The effects of PAs on the mechanical damages suffered by the fruits during handling, packaging and processing lines are discussed.