Induction of a new alkaline band at a target position in internodal cells of Chara corallina.

Characean cells develop alternating alkaline and acid bands on their surface upon illumination. However, the mechanism of band formation is not fully understood. In the present study, we succeeded in inducing a new alkaline band at an original acid band in internodal cells of Chara corallina. Chloroplasts in an acid band were locally removed by wounding the cell in the absence of the cell turgor pressure. The chloroplast-removed area was observed as a white belt in a green cylindrical internodal cell. This internodal cell developed a new alkaline band on the surface at the chloroplast-removed area. The narrower the chloroplast-removed area, the less significant the extent of OH(-) extrusion. This is the first success in inducing a new alkaline band at a target position in Characeae.