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Abstract
□ Total calcium (Ca) content in different tissues, developing spikes (S1, S2, S3 and S4 stages), and distribution sites in seeds of five finger millet genotypes, which were differed in total calcium content, were analyzed. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) revealed stage-dependent quantitative changes in calcium accumulation from low to high during different stages of developing spikes and also in different tissues and grains. Results of scanning electron microscopic (SEM) energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis showed differential distributions of the calcium in seed components viz. seed coat, aleurone layer and endosperm. Highest calcium content was observed in aleurone layer followed by seed coat while lowest calcium was found in endosperm of all genotypes. Major differences were found amongst genotypes with regard to the calcium distribution in seed components. The differential regulation of transport machinery might be responsible for differential calcium ion delivery and spatial distribution in the seed. A clear understanding of differential accumulation, spatial distribution and the variation of calcium within finger millet genotypes/seeds could be exploited for breeding for their bio-fortification and development of calcium rich functional foods.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to acknowledge the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for providing financial support in the form of Program Mode Support for research and development in Agricultural Biotechnology at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Grant No. BT/PR7849/AGR/02/2006). We are also thankful to Dr. H. S. Dhaliwal for his kind assistance in the SEM/EDX technique and Vikram S. Gaur for critically going through the manuscript.