Turkish Journal of Botany
Abstract
Divalent cations, particularly calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+), are essential for maintaining chromosomal architecture, yet their roles in plants remain poorly characterized. This study investigated the effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on the chromosomal structure of wheat (Triticum aestivum, 2n = 6x = 42), a widely used model in plant cytogenetics. Root-tip chromosomes were isolated enzymatically and treated with BAPTA (a Ca2+-specific chelator), EDTA (a broad cation chelator), and buffer solutions containing either 5 mM Mg2+ (XBE5) or no Mg2+ (XBE). Chromosomes were stained with aceto-orcein for light microscopy and processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microscopic observations revealed that chromosomes subjected to Ca2+ or Mg2+ depletion (BAPTA, EDTA, XBE) appeared elongated, thinner, and more fibrous compared to controls. Quantitative analysis showed that chelation treatments increased chromosomal length by approximately 25–40% and reduced width by about 20% (p < 0.05). The most pronounced differences were observed in EDTA-treated samples, while Mg2+ deficiency had a stronger influence on chromosomal width and area. SEM imaging confirmed decondensation and disruption of chromatin ultrastructure under Ca2+ and Mg2+-limited conditions. This study provides the first quantitative evidence that both Ca²+ and Mg²+ are vital for maintaining higher-order chromosomal organization in plants. By demonstrating their structural significance in wheat chromosomes, these findings highlight the critical role of divalent cations in stabilizing plant chromatin architecture and offer new insights into the molecular basis of chromosome organization in plant cells.
Author ORCID Identifier
ANDI SALAMAH: 0000-0002-4074-8342
FITRI NURCHASANAH: 0000-0002-9087-024X
VYCKA FAIRUZ: 0000-0001-6962-846X
ASTARI DWIRANTI: 0000-0002-0105-2748
DOI
10.55730/1300-008X.2909
Keywords
Calcium ion, chromosome, EDTA, magnesium ion, wheat (Triticum aestivum)
First Page
341
Last Page
349
Publisher
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
SALAMAH, A, NURCHASANAH, F. A, FAIRUZ, V. F, & DWIRANTI, A (2026). Effects of calcium and magnesium ions on wheat (Triticum aestivum) chromosome structure visualized using light and scanning electron microscopes. Turkish Journal of Botany 50 (4): 341-349. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-008X.2909
