POTASSIUM IN POLYPHOSPHATE BODIES OF CHLORELLA PYRENOIDOSA (CHLOROPHYCEAE) AS DETERMINED BY X-RAY MICROANALYSIS1

Potassium is an important component information of polyphosphate bodies (PB) by Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick. However, it was not detected in PB by X-ray energy dispersive microanalyses when the specimens were subjected to a standard preparation procedure for transmission electron microscopy. Intact cells were incinerated at 350 C on stainless steel grids coated with silicon monoxide. X-ray spectra from PB showed conspicuous peaks of energy counts in the Kα lines for phosphorus and potassium. It is proposed that potassium is a major cationic component of PB in C. pyrenoidosa grown in potassium sufficient medium.