Uptake and Distribution of Calcium in two Groundnut Cultivars During Pod Development

The uptake and distribution of ⁴⁵Ca and the activity of Ca²⁺ -ATPase in two groundnut (Amchis hypogaea L.) cultivars, JL 24 and kadiri 1 were studied during pod development. The experiments were carried out at 10 day intervals after anthesis. The 10 day old pods, pericarps and seeds of cv. JL 24 showed higher uptake of ⁴⁵Ca than cv. kadiri 1. The total Ca²⁺ content was found to be more in the pericarps and seeds of cv. kadiri 1. On the other hand the Ca²⁺ content of the plastids, mitochondria and microsomal particles of pods, pericarps and seeds of cv. JL 24 was higher than cv. kadiri 1. Mitochondria maintained higher levels of Ca²⁺ than the plastids and the microsomal fractions of both the cultivars. The Ca²⁺ -ATPase activity increased from zero to 30 day in both the cultivars. The organelles of pods, pericarps and seeds of cv. JL 24 showed higher activity than cv. kadiri 1. More Ca²⁺ -ATPase activity was associated with mitochondria than the plastids and microsomal fractions in both the cultivars. The cv. JL 24 appears to be more efficient in Ca²⁺ uptake and distribution during development of pods.