Callus formation in relation to changes of the membrane Ca²⁺ in the graft unions ofGinkgo biloba L.

Abstract

The relationship between the callus formation and intracellular Ca²⁺ at the early stage of development of graft unions inGinkgo biloba L. was investigated. On the second day after grafting, part of the undamaged living cells at the graft interface of the stock and scion in the regions of the cortex and pith began to dedifferentiate or divide. 8 d after grafting, a great number of callus cells were produced from the cortex and phloem, while callus bridges linking the stock with scion formed between the callus cells of the graft partners from the cortex. A membrane Ca²⁺ probe, chlortetracycline (CTC), was used to locate the intracellular Ca²⁺ distribution and it was found that the cortical and pith parenchyma cells were the first to show remarkably increased CTC-Ca²⁺ fluorescence, suggesting that the cortical and other parenchyma cells play a leading role at the early stage of development of graft unions by earlier dedifferentiation and more rapid production of callus cells.