Transport of fluorescein in trichomes of Lycopersicon esculentum

Abstract

Translocation of the dye disodium fluorescein (uranin) in trichomes of Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) was nonpolar and proportional to the square root of time. Inhibition of cytoplasmic streaming by cytochalasin B had no effect on the rate of dye movement. On the other hand, disruption of plasmodesmatal connections between adjacent cells by plasmolysis strongly diminished the rate of fluorescein translocation. Subsequent deplasmolysis of the cells did not remove the inhibiting effect of plasmolysis. The data are consistent with the interpretation that dye movement proceeds by diffusion, the rate-limiting step being transport through plasmodesmatal connections.