Cytochalasin B (CB), thought to disaggregate F-actin in animal cells, and phalloidin (Phal), known to stabilize F-actin in vivo and in vitro, have nearly identical effects on cotyledon epidermal cells of Allium cepa. Both drugs rapidly induce cessation of streaming and both, by preventing normal telophase reorientation movement, lead to abnormal division planes in dividing guard mother cells. Neither, however, prevents normal microtubule deposition, wall thickening, and cellulose orientation during guard cell differentiation. Furthermore, both drugs have no effect on spindle formation and anaphase chromosome motion. Examination of Nitella and Chara cells, in which streaming had been stopped by either agent, shows that microfilament cables are still present. With both drugs, the minimum effective concentrations were routinely used (CB, 2 μM; Phal, 100–200 μM). Our results are discussed in terms of the mode of action of these drugs and their possible role in host-fungus interactions. Implications for the mechanisms underlying cell plate alignment, cellulose orientation, and cytoplasmic streaming are discussed.