Calcium transport in apple trees

Non-destructive Measurement of Calcium and Potassium in Apple and Pear Using Handheld X-ray Fluorescence

Calcium and potassium are essential for cell signaling, ion homeostasis and cell wall strength in plants. Unlike nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium, calcium is immobile in plants. Localized calcium deficiencies result in agricultural losses; particularly for fleshy horticultural crops in which elemental imbalances in fruit contribute to the development of physiological disorders such as bitter pit in apple and cork spot in pear. Currently, elemental analysis of plant tissue is destructive, time consuming and costly. This is a limitation for nutrition studies related to calcium in plants. Handheld portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) can be used to non-destructively measure elemental concentrations. The main objective was to test if handheld XRF can be used for semi-quantitative calcium and potassium analysis of in-tact apple and pear. Semi-quantitative measurements for individual fruit were compared to results obtained from traditional lab analysis. Here, we observed significant correlations between handheld XRF measurements of calcium and potassium and concentrations determined using MP-AES lab analysis. Pearson correlation coefficients ranged from 0.73 and 0.97. Furthermore, measuring apple and pear using handheld XRF identified spatial variability in calcium and potassium concentrations on the surface of individual fruit. This variability may contribute to the development of localized nutritional imbalances. This highlights the importance of understanding spatial and temporal variability in elemental concentrations in plant tissue. Handheld XRF is a relatively high-throughput approach for measuring calcium and potassium in plant tissue. It can be used in conjunction with traditional lab analysis to better understand spatial and temporal patterns in calcium and potassium uptake and distribution within an organ, plant or across the landscape.

Calcium antagonists and calmodulin inhibitors block cytokinin-induced bud formation in Funaria

The plant hormone cytokinin stimulates nuclear migration followed by an asymmetric cell division in target cells of the protonema of the moss Funaria hygrometrica, leading to bud formation. The role of calcium in this developmental event was investigated by examining the effects of various calcium antagonists on the cytokinin-induced division. Calcium-free medium (buffered with EGTA), the extracellular Ca2+ antagonist La3+ (lanthanum), and the Ca2+ channel inhibitors D 600 and verapamil all block bud formation. These inhibitions are partially reversed by washing the cells or by raising the extracellular [Ca2+]. The Ca2+ ionophore A23187 partially reversed the effects of D 600 and verapamil. Bud formation is also inhibited by the intracellular Ca2+ antagonist TMB-8 (8-diethylamino)octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate HCl), and this inhibition is partially reversed by washing or raising the extracellular [Ca2+]. The cross walls of both the filaments and bud initial cells formed during TMB-8 exposure exhibit a distorted morphology. High concentrations of TMB-8 block nuclear migration. The calmodulin inhibitor trifluoperazine stops cytokinin-induced budding more effectively than the related compound chlorpromazine. Low concentrations of these two compounds do not affect nuclear migration; however, the target cell does not enter mitosis. These results support the hypothesis that a rise in intracellular calcium mediates cytokinin-induced bud formation in Funaria. It is concluded that the proposed cytokinin-induced rise in intracellular calcium may be effected in part by the activation of calmodulin. The essential source of Ca2+ appears to be extracellular, because blocking Ca2+ uptake with Ca2+ transport inhibitors can block both nuclear migration and subsequent division.

Calcium Ionophore A23187 Stimulates Cytokinin-Like Mitosis inFunaria

The plant hormone cytokinin stimulates asymmetrical division in target cells of the protonema of the mossFunaria hygrometrica,leading to bud formation. The initial division can be induced in the absence of cytokinin by the calcium ionophore A23187 in medium containing calcium. These findings suggest that increases in the concentration of intracellular calcium are essential to bud initiation. Therefore mitotic regulation by cytokinin may be due, at least in part, to the modulation of intracellular calcium ion concentration.

Transport of divalent cations: cation exchange capacity of intact xylem vessels

The cation exchange capacity of the intact xylem vessels in cut shoots of papyrus (Cyperus papyrus spec.) has been determined. The cation exchange capacity is independent of the cation concentration in the transpiration stream, and is equal for Ca and Co. The high value of the cation exchange capacity (0.6 to 1 x 10(-7) equivalents per square centimeter vessel wall surface) leads to the hypothesis that the porous structure of the vessel wall, and not only the inner vessel wall surface, acts as a cation exchanger.Differences between anion ([(32)P]phosphate, [(45)Ca]EDTA(2-), [(115)Cd(m)]-EDTA(2-)), and cation ([(45)Ca](2+), [(115)Cd(m)](2+)) movement are explained in terms of transport with the transpiration flux or by exchange reactions. The competition between exchange sites and natural or synthetic ligands for the divalent cations is discussed.

[Comparative study of (45)Ca absorption and translocation in various groups of plants]

(45)Ca long-distance transport was studied within various groups of plants (higher plants and marine Algae) in relation to the absorption process at the level of the source organs. The purpose was to determine whether the well-known absence of Ca(2+) movement might be attributed to some particularity of the cell absorption. - The results obtained lead to the following conclusions: 1) In higher plants, the translocation of (45)Ca applied to the leaf is possible; it occurs through the phloem (heat-girdling). After a darkness-pretreatment, the translocation decreases significantly while the absorption in the leaf does not; this allows us to distinguish between the two processes and to underline the relationship which exists between the long distance transport and the phloem metabolism. The significant decrease of the translocation after a local application of cycloheximide to the stem underlines the dependence of the phloem transport on the protein metabolism. 2) In the case of Algae, (45)Ca migrates very easily in Ascophyllum nodosum, whereas in Laminaria digitata the (45)Ca immobility contrasts with the very high mobility of (32)P. 3) In every case studied (leaf, thallus) the lack of effect on the calcium absorption of the different factors used (low temperature, darkening, metabolic inhibitors: KCN, CCCP, CHM, etc.) is in agreement with a non-metabolic nature of the calcium ion uptake.

Deferral of leaf senescence with calcium

In view of the possibility that senescence may be a consequence of the deterioration of membrane compartments in the cells of leaves, calcium was studied as a possible agent which might defer senescence. The senescence of corn leaf discs was deferred by added calcium, and the effect was additive to the cytokinin deferral of senescence. Likewise, the senescence of Rumex leaf discs was deferred by added calcium, and the effect was additive to the gibberellin deferral of senescence. Detailed experiments with corn leaf discs established that the increase in apparent free space associated with senescence was completely prevented by calcium. An increase in hydraulic permeability during senescence was likewise demonstrated, and this increase was deferred by calcium; calcium plus benzyladenine was even more effective. Each of the measured functions of leaf senescence (chlorophyll content, protein decrease, apparent free space increase, and hydraulic permeability increase) was suppressed by calcium, and the interpretation is offered that the effects are a consequence of the calcium function in maintaining cellular membranes.