Open AccessMicroscope methods for observation of the phylloplane flora
Author(s) -
Ian C. Hallett,
K.S.H. Boyd-Wilson,
K.R. Everett
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
proceedings of the new zealand weed and pest control conference/new zealand plant protection/proceedings of the ... national weeds conference/proceedings of the new zealand weed control conference/proceedings of the new zealand plant protection conference
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 0370-2804
pISSN - 0370-0968
DOI - 10.30843/nzpp.2010.63.6608
Subject(s) - environmental scanning electron microscope , phyllosphere , biology , scanning electron microscope , replica , flora (microbiology) , identification (biology) , biological system , nanotechnology , ecology , materials science , bacteria , composite material , art , visual arts , genetics
Microscopebased observation of surface microbes can support indirect techniques such as culturing or DNA analysis of surface washings by illustrating microbial distribution patterns interrelationships and the presence of unculturable or nonrecovered organisms Comparisons have been made between techniques of contrasting complexity For example surface replicas of the leaf made from transparent materials and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were compared for their ability to present an accurate picture of the leaf surface and microbial populations Environmental SEM (ESEM) and cryoSEM minimise change and provide the most realistic and detailed images of the surface but have logistical difficulties Conventional critical point dried SEM samples even with extra processing and some physical change usually provided similar results and had advantages in handling The simpler replica techniques retained microbial number and distribution when compared to ESEM but were poor with rough surfaces Microbial material on replicas could be stained or labelled with antibodies to improve identification