Fusicoccin- and IAA-induced elongation growth share the same pattern of K+ dependence

The dependence of growth induced by the fungal toxin fusicoccin (FC) on the K+ content of the incubation medium was investigated in abraded maize coleoptiles. If the divalent ion Ca2+ was included in the bathing medium, no FC-induced growth occurred in the absence of K+, whereas a strong response was detected in presence of K+. The optimal K+ concentration was in the range of 1-10 mM. With the exception of Rb+, none of the other alkali ions (Na+, Li+, Cs+) could replace for K+ in sustaining FC-induced growth. The potassium channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA) reversibly inhibited FC-induced growth. As shown earlier for auxin-induced growth, no strict potassium dependence of FC-triggered elongation was observed in Ca2+ -free media. However, TEA abolished this apparently K+ independent FC-induced growth. It is concluded that FC-induced growth, like auxin-induced growth, requires K+ uptake through K+ channels.