Polar Calcium Flux in Sunflower Hypocotyl Segments : II. The Effect of Segment Orientation, Growth, and Respiration.

Calcium flux in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv Russian mammoth) hypocotyl was measured with a Ca(2+) electrode as the increase or decrease in Ca(2+) in an aqueous solution (10 micromolar CaCl(2)) in contact with either the basal or apical end of 20 millimeter segments. Ca(2+) efflux was significantly higher at the apical end compared with the basal end; this apparent polarity was maintained even when the segments were inverted. No significant difference was observed in the cation exchange capacity of apical and basal cell walls that could explain the difference in Ca(2+) efflux at opposite ends of the hypocotyl segment. The presence of exogenous indoleacetic acid (IAA) in the segment medium resulted in the promotion of both Ca(2+) efflux and segment elongation. However, osmotic inhibition of the IAA-induced elongation did not result in inhibiting the IAA-induced Ca(2+) efflux. Ca(2+) efflux was inhibited by cyanide. Lowering the temperature from 25 degrees C also caused the gradual reduction of Ca(2+) efflux; at 5 degrees C the hypocotyl segments showed a net absorption of Ca(2+) from the segment medium. These findings support the suggestion that: (a) the observed Ca(2+) efflux in hypocotyl segments is probably the manifestation of the system which maintains the transmembrane Ca(2+) gradient at the cellular level. (b) The acropetal polarity of Ca(2+) efflux may be the result of the involvement of Ca(2+) in the basipetal transport of IAA.