To investigate the changes of tissue transglutaminase activity, the leaves and young panicles of rice at different developmental stages were excised from the Honglian-type cytoplasmic male sterile line, Yuetai A and its maintainer line, Yuetai B, respectively. An ELISA measurement protocol for tissue transglutaminase activity detection in rice was well established. The results indicated that the tissue transglutaminase activity was regulated positively by calcium cation, and the tissue transglutaminase activity in senescent leaves was remarkably higher than that in young leaves. No distinct difference was noted between Yuetai A and Yuetai B. Moreover, from the tetrad to binucleate stages the tissue transglutaminase activity increased gradually with the progression of the young panicle development and up to maximum at binucleate stage in Yuetai A. However, no similar changes were observed in Yuetai B. This indicates that the tissue transglutaminase is involved in cell programmed death in abortive pollen. To investigate the changes of tissue transglutaminase activity, the leaves and young panicles of rice at different developmental stages were excised from the Honglian-type cytoplasmic male sterile line, Yuetai A and its maintainer line, Yuetai B, respectively. An ELISA measurement protocol for tissue The results indicated that the tissue transglutaminase activity was an active positive by calcium cation, and the tissue transglutaminase activity in senescent leaves was remarkably higher than that in young leaves. No distinct difference was noted between Yuetai A and Yuetai B. Furthermore, from the tetrad to binucleate stages the the transglutaminase activity increased gradually with the progression of the young panicle development and up to the maximum at binucleate stage in Yuetai A. However, no similar changes were observed in Yuetai B. This indicates that the tissue transglutaminase is involved in cell programmed death i n abortive pollen.