In two cell lines of Catharanthus roseus, the accumulation of indole alkaloids is enhanced by adding a cytokinin to the culture medium. Cells grown under conditions which restricted the extracellular Ca2+ fail to accumulate alkaloids, this inhibition being overcome through re-addition of calcium. Inorganic ions, La3+ and Co2+, as well as the calcium channel inhibitors, verapamil, pimozide, bepridil and flunarizine inhibit Ca-45(2+) uptake in C. roseus protoplasts. These compounds, together with dihydropyridines, inhibit the effect of cytokinin on alkaloid accumulation, but the dihydropyridines do not block the Ca2+ influx and specific binding sites for the tritiated drug (+) PN 200-110 cannot be identified. Moreover, several calmodulin inhibitors inhibit the alkaloid synthesis. The significance of Ca2+ ions in the cytokinin-enhanced alkaloid accumulation is discussed.