Enzymatic isolation of cells from aquatic macrophytes

Cells were isolated by enzymic digestion from a number of aquatic macrophytes and their photosynthetic activities were determined. Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, Myriophyllum spicatum L. and M. brasiliense Cambess provided photosynthetically-active cells after digestion with commercial pectinase. Cells from emergent leaves of M. brasiliense were approximately 3 times more active than cells from submersed leaves (56.1 vs. 17.4 μmoles CO₂ mg^?2 Chl h^?1). Cells could be isolated from E. crassipes by grinding as well as by digestion, but the former were less active (3.1 vs. 24.2 μmoles CO₂ mg Chl h^?1). Attempts to isolate cells from Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle or Potamogeton pectinatus L. were not successful.