The influence of support material (calcium alginate, x-carrageenan and agarose), cell loading and, in case of alginate, bead diameter on the rate of respiration of immobilised plant cells (Daucus carota) was investigated. No significant differences were observed between the three supports and no loss of respiration activity occurred as result of immobilisation per se. The results show further that above a critical combination of cell loading and bead diameter limitations of the rate of respiration by diffusion of oxygen increases with increasing loading and diameter.