The hyperpolarization of the electrical plasma membrane potential difference has been identified as an early response of plant cells to various signals including fungal elicitors. The hyperpolarization-activated influx of Ca2+ into tomato cells was examined by the application of conventional patch clamp techniques. In both whole cell and single-channel recordings, clamped membrane voltages more negative than −120 mV resulted in time- and voltage-dependent current activation. Single-channel currents saturated with increasing activities of Ca2+ and Ba2+ from 3 to 26 mm and the single channel conductance increased from 4 pS to 11 pS in the presence of 20 mm Ca2+ or Ba2+, respectively. These channels were 20–25 and 10–13 times more permeable to Ca2+ than to K+ and to Cl−, respectively. Channel currents were strongly inhibited by 10 μm lanthanum and 50% inhibited by 100 μm nifedipine. This evidence suggests that hyperpolarization-activated Ca2+-permeable channels provide a mechanism for the influx of Ca2+ into tomato cells.