To investigate the effect of low energy ion implantation on maize pollen germination and cytosolic Ca2+ distribution during pollen germination process, the argon ion (Ar+) with energy of 30 keV, dose of 0.78 ×1015-13×1015 ion/cm2 was implanted into maize pollen by irradiation, and the germination of pollen and cytosolic Ca2+ distribution during pollen germination process of the Ar+ implanted pollen were studied. The results showed that when been irradiated with Ar+ with dose of 5.2×1015 ion/cm2, the germination rate of maize pollen increased remarkably, while implantation of ions with dose exceeding 5.2×1015 ion/cm2 sharply decreased the germination rate of maize pollen. Meanwhile, tracing of esterified Ca2+ fluorescence probe fluo-3 AM for intact pollen showed that variation of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration was consistent with the change of pollen fertility. The dynamics of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration caused by low energy ion implantation may be concluded as the initial effects of pollen germination.
