The Localization of Acid Phosphatase in the Sieve Element of Pisum

Abstract

Acid phosphatase activity has been detected within the sieve-tube members of plants by many workers using the Gomori technique and light microscopy (Lester and Evert 1965; Flinn and Smith 1967). Unfortunately the limited resolution makes it difficult to determine the specific sites of activity of the reaction product of the enzyme; recent advances in histochemical techniques for electron microscopy have made it possible to investigate more specifically the sites of localization of the acid phosphatase reaction product by using the Gomori lead nitrate technique (Goldfischer, Essner, and Novikoff 1964; Catesson and Czanenski 1967; Bowen 1968; Figier 1968; Wardrop 1968).