Vacuolar yield and alteration with aging of suspension-cultured cells from pear fruit

Vacuoles were isolated from suspension-cultured pear fruit (Pyrus communis L. Passe Crassane) cells of various ages. Yield of vacuoles averaged 17% of protoplasts throughout all the experimental stages. The isolated vacuoles were progressively larger and more likely to stain with neutral red as cells advanced from division to growth and incipient senescence. A relationship between aging and vacuolar or membrane function was implicit in the size and staining characteristics of isolated vacuoles.