Induction of "pore" formation in plant cell membranes by toluene.

Treatment with aqueous toluene-ethanol has been shown to induce "pore" formation in plant cell membranes. The evidence is as follows: [List: see text]While the principal experimental material was roots of Atriplex nummularia Lindl., the fact that similar results were also observed with leaves of Pisum sativum L. and with the alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chik. suggests that the phenomenon is general.Although the phenomenon of pore induction is qualitatively similar to that in microorganisms, the pores induced appear to be smaller. It is proposed that induced leakage could be the basis for the development of simple and rapid methods for plant biochemical studies.