Thiol-treated spinach (Spinacia oleracea) chloroplast fructose bisphosphatase is powerfully inhibited by Ca2+ non-competitively with respect to its substrate, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. 500 microM-Ca2+ causes virtually complete inhibition and the Ki is 40 microM. Severe inhibition of sedoheptulose bisphosphatase is also caused by Ca2+. A role for Ca2+ in regulation of the Calvin cycle in spinach chloroplasts is proposed.