Calcium ions (Ca²⁺) are important signal molecules to relay information around, and between cells. In plants, calcium signals are involved in many processes including cell growth, environmental stress (e.g. high salt in soil) responses, and defence against disease-causing microbes. Last week, many of the researchers studying calcium signals in plants gathered together at the Plant Calcium Signalling 2014 meeting in Münster, Germany.

I really enjoyed the meeting. It was great to hear about the current research being undertaken by others, and to see how much the research area has moved forward since the previous meeting was held in 2010. Lots of exciting research was presented at the conference, but I’m just going to mention a few of my favourites.

Long-distance calcium waves in plant roots were discussed from the perspective of a biologist (Simon Gilroy, University of Wisconsin), and then a physicist (Matthew J Evans, John Innes Centre). Gilroy’s research group found that treating plant roots with salt (NaCl) activates rapid calcium (Ca²⁺) waves that travel at speeds of around 400 µm/s from root to shoot (1). High salt levels can be harmful to plants and the calcium wave is likely to be involved in activation of whole-plant stress responses that help the plant survive in these conditions. In the video below the wave is visible as a colour change from yellow (low calcium ion levels) to red (high calcium ion levels).