Activation of soluble acid invertase accompanies the cytokinin-induced source-sink leaf transition

Activation of soluble acid invertase by cytokinin was shown using as a model a detached sugar-beet leaf, one half (sink) of which was treated with benzyladenine and the other half (source) of which was sprayed with water. Acid invertase was assumed to mediate the hormone-induced sink properties of the cells. The influx of C-14-sucrose to the leaf half treated with benzyladenine was induced to much greater extent than that of potassium (Rb-86). This suggests different pathways or mechanisms of translocation of these substances to the induced sink.