Functions in Plants

Calcium has several distinct functions within higher plants. Bangerth (3) suggested that these functions can be divided into four main areas:
(a) effects on membranes,
(b) effects on enzymes,
(c) effects on cell walls, and
(d) interactions of calcium with phytohormones,
although the effects on enzymes and the interactions with phytohormones may be the same activity. As a divalent ion, calcium is not only able to form intramolecular complexes, but it is also able to link molecules in intermolecular complexes (4), which seems to be crucial to its function.