Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Real-time In Vivo Recording of Arabidopsis Calcium Signals During Insect Feeding Using a Fluorescent Biosensor
Published on: August 15, 2017
Involvement of Calcium in the Photoperiodic Flower Induction Process of Pharbitis nil
H Friedman1, E E Goldschmidt, A H Halevy
1The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Horticulture, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Abstract:
EGTA, a specific Ca(2+) chelator, inhibited the flowering response of Pharbitis nil when applied to the cotyledons immediately before the inductive dark period. Calcium sprayed 30 minutes after the EGTA blocked the effect of EGTA. The length of the critical dark period was increased both by EGTA and by LaCl(3). The calmodulin antagonists W-7 and chlorpromazine also reduced the flowering response. On the other hand, A23187, a calcium ionophore, increased the flowering response. Both EGTA and A23187 were effective at certain times of the photoperiod but had almost no effect when applied at other times. The results indicate that the level of endogenous Ca(2+) may be limiting for floral induction in Ph. nil. Ca(2+) seems to play a role during the early stages of the inductive dark period.
Related Concept Videos
Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses
Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light
Cell Signaling in Plants
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
Channel Rhodopsins
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...
