Protoplasmic streaming, cytochalasin B, and growth of the pollen tube

Pollen tubes were grown in nutrient medium with increasing concentrations of cytochalasin B that inhibited cytoplasmic streaming to different degrees. The streaming of cytoplasmic particles and the growth rate of pollen tubes were measured by cinc photography and frame by frame analysis of the film. A direct correlation has been found between the concentration of cytochalasin B in the medium, the rate of cytoplasmic streaming, and the rate of growth of the pollen babe. The functioning of microfilaments is thus implicated in the control of pollen tube growth.