INTERCELLULAR TRANSPORT AND CYTOPLASMIC STREAMING IN CHARA-HISPIDA

The correlation between the velocities of cytoplasmic streaming and of translocation of 14C-photosynthate and 32P-phosphate associated radioactivity was investigated in whole plants of the green freshwater alga C. hispida L. Tracer was supplied to the plant''s rhizoid system in a split-chamber. The velocity of cytoplasmic streaming of 52 .+-. 3.3 .mu.m s-1 compares with 57 .+-. 10 .mu.m s-1 found for 14C-transport and 32 .+-. 20 .mu.m s-1 found for 32P-transport. There was no indication of intercellular translocation at a velocity faster than visible streaming. Cytochalasin B inhibited the translocation of 32P and cytoplasmic streaming. Cytochalasin B becomes fully effective in inhibiting streaming and transport after an incubation time of least 5 h.