Abstract: Potassium pyroantimonate technique was used to investigate the Ca²⁺distribution in the anthers of Baotai type cytoplasmic male-sterile rice (Ozyra sativa L.) and its maintainer line.There were some differences between sterile and fertile anthers during the pollen mother cell stage.Some Ca²⁺ were found in epidermal cells,endothecium and vascular bundle of the sterile rice,whereas almost no Ca²⁺in fertile anthers.The differences were further improved at the meiosis stage.Ca²⁺ in cells of sterile anthers' wall and vascular bundle  apparently increased,especially at tapetal cells and the second wall of trachea.It was manifested that at the early stage of anther's development,gene expression and metabolism of fertility in the sterile and fertile anthers appeared differences,which caused the pollen abortion afterwards.The phenomena offered a new ponder for us on the male sterile mechanism research of the rice.In other words,we should seek the mechanism of rice male sterile at the early development of anther.

Key words: rice, male sterile, potassium pyroantimonate technique, anther