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RAPID CHEMICAL DEHYDRATION OF PLANT MATERIAL FOR LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPY WITH 2,2‐DIMETHOXYPROPANE AND 2,2‐DIETHOXYPROPANE
Author(s) -
Lin Chin Ho,
Falk Richard H.,
Stocking C. Ralph
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1977.tb11898.x
Subject(s) - dehydration , distilled water , scanning electron microscope , electron microscope , ultrastructure , microscopy , materials science , biology , biophysics , botany , chromatography , chemistry , composite material , biochemistry , pathology , optics , medicine , physics
A rapid and simple procedure was used for chemical dehydration of plant tissue during sample preparation for light and electron microscopy. Chemically fixed tissues were washed with distilled water and then rapidly dehydrated with either 2,2‐dimethoxypropane or 2,2‐diethoxypropane for 15 minutes. Light microscopic observation of paraffin‐embedded tissue or tissue embedded in Spurr's plastic showed excellent preservation. Electron microscopic examination of plastic‐embedded tissue showed well maintained ultrastructural morphology. The dehydration procedure was also successfully applied to plant tissue destined for examination in a scanning electron microscope.