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

Abstract
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.