Short Term Heat Shock and Cold Shock Induced Proline Accumulation in Relation to Calcium Involvement in Lycopersicon Esculentum (Mill) Cultured Cells and Seedlings.

Proline accumulated in the seedlings as well as cultured cells of tomato as a consequence of short term heat shock (45*C for 4 and 8 hr) and cold shock (4°C for 4 hr and 8 hr) treatment. The involvement of Ca¹⁺ in proline accumulation was demonstrated by using specific calcium chelator, EGTA and channel blocker, LaCl₃. CaCl₂ pretreatment stimulated the accumulation of proline both in high and low temperature treated cultured cells and seedlings of tomato. The probable mechanism of involvement of calcium in eliciting the proline level is also discussed.