Ion Uptake by Carrot Tissue and Mitochondria

Abstract

It is shown that aged carrot disks which accumulate ions and show salt-stimulated respiration are suitable for the isolation of mitochondria. The isolated mitochondria were enzymically similar to mitochondria prepared from fresh tissue. Both showed respiratory control. The mitochondria of aged disks were capable of accumulating ions and the sensitivity of this process to inhibitors and uncouplers was similar to that of the tissue. Oligomycin did not inhibit substrate-supported ion accumulation by the mitochondria. The results are discussed and their significance to the theories of ion uptake by plant storage tissues is considered.