Embedding thin plant specimens for oriented sectioning.

T Beeckman; R Viane

doi:10.3109/10520290009047981

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Embedding thin plant specimens for oriented sectioning.

T Beeckman·R Viane

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Abstract

Small plant structures such as small primary roots, filamentous mosses and algae are difficult to orient for sectioning since they become wavy and curl during embedding. A method is described for embedding and orienting tiny plant specimens in a glycol methacrylate resin using self-constructed flat molds. Prior to sectioning, small samples can be oriented in both the longitudinal and the transverse plane. As several samples can be sectioned simultaneously, time-consuming trimming of the blocks is reduced substantially. The efficiency of this technique has been demonstrated using the tiny roots of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.

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T Beeckman, R Viane. 2000. Embedding thin plant specimens for oriented sectioning.. https://doi.org/10.3109/10520290009047981

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