Abstract
The movement of applied 137Cs and of naturally-assimilated 14C down the long stolon of Saxifraga is strongly inhibited by confining a length of 10 to 30 cm of the stolon in an atmosphere of nitrogen. The inhibition is reversible, normal transport being restored after less then 4 h when the stolon is returned to air from 5 h in nitrogen. Callose formation does not seem to be involved. There is evidence that local darkness has a similar adverse effect on phloem transport. These findings are considered antagonistic to the pressure-flow hypothesis, but favourable to the active mass-flow theories.