The apoplast is known to play a predominant role in the expression of manganese (Mn) toxicity in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) leaves. To unravel early Mn-toxicity responses after 1-3 days Mn treatment also in the leaf symplast, we studied the symplastic reactions induced by Mn in two cultivars differing in Mn tolerance on a total cellular level. Comparative proteome analyses of plants exposed to low or high Mn allowed to identify proteins specifically affected by Mn, particularly in the Mn-sensitive cowpea cultivar. These proteins are involved in CO2 fixation, stabilization of the Mn cluster of the photosystem II, pathogenesis-response reactions and protein degradation. Chloroplastic proteins important for CO2 fixation and photosynthesis were of lower abundance upon Mn stress suggesting scavenging of metabolic energy for a specific stress response. Transcriptome analyses supported these findings, but additionally revealed an upregulation of genes involved in signal transduction only in the Mn-sensitive cultivar. In conclusion, a coordinated interplay of apoplastic and symplastic reactions seems to be important during the Mn-stress response in cowpea. © 2008 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.