title: Whole-organ analysis of calcium behaviour in the developing pistil of olive (Olea europaea L.) as a tool for the determination of key events in sexual plant reproduction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pistil is a place where multiple interactions between cells of different types, origin, and function occur. Ca(2+) is one of the key signal molecules in plants and animals. Despite the numerous studies on Ca(2+) signalling during pollen-pistil interactions, which constitute one of the main topics of plant physiology, studies on Ca(2+) dynamics in the pistil during flower formation are scarce. The purpose of this study was to analyze the contents and in situ localization of Ca(2+) at the whole-organ level in the pistil of olive during the whole course of flower development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The obtained results showed significant changes in Ca(2+) levels and distribution during olive pistil development. In the flower buds, the lowest levels of detectable Ca(2+) were observed. As flower development proceeded, the Ca(2+) amount in the pistil successively increased and reached the highest levels just after anther dehiscence. When the anthers and petals fell down a dramatic but not complete drop in calcium contents occurred in all pistil parts. In situ Ca(2+) localization showed a gradual accumulation on the stigma, and further expansion toward the style and the ovary after anther dehiscence. At the post-anthesis phase, the Ca(2+) signal on the stigmatic surface decreased, but in the ovary a specific accumulation of calcium was observed only in one of the four ovules. Ultrastructural localization confirmed the presence of Ca(2+) in the intracellular matrix and in the exudate secreted by stigmatic papillae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report to analyze calcium in the olive pistil during its development. According to our results in situ calcium localization by Fluo-3 AM injection is an effective tool to follow the pistil maturity degree and the spatial organization of calcium-dependent events of sexual reproduction occurring in developing pistil of angiosperms. The progressive increase of the Ca(2+) pool during olive pistil development shown by us reflects the degree of pistil maturity. Ca(2+) distribution at flower anthesis reflects the spatio-functional relationship of calcium with pollen-stigma interaction, progamic phase, fertilization and stigma senescence.
authors: Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Celular y Molecular de Plantas, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Profesor Albareda 1, 18008, Granada, Spain.
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Zienkiewicz
authors: Juan D
authors: JD
authors: Rejón
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Suárez
authors: Antonio J
authors: AJ
authors: Castro
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: de Dios Alché
authors: María Isabel
authors: MI
authors: Rodríguez García
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D035264:Flowers / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D031658:Olea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D056771:Ovule / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium