Here we present a protocol that describes how to image the structure of the olive axillary bud meristem with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in order to characterize its identity and developmental stage. Briefly, the specimen is fixed with glutaraldehyde, saturated with ethanol, dried in a critical point dryer (CPD) system, dissected, coated with a conducting material and imaged with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
The exact timing of flowering induction and inflorescence initiation in olive (Olea europaea L.) is in controversy (Haberman et al., 2017). In olive, inflorescences emerge from lateral buds at the end of winter and flower in the spring. We have developed a protocol to better characterize the timing of inflorescence initiation in olive by imaging the meristem in the olive bud with a SEM at different times during the year. In these SEM images the meristem structure can be identified unambiguously, and the definition level of the meristem can be much higher than images of bud meristem sections presented in previous studies.
Haberman, A., Zelinger, E. and Samach, A. (2017). Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Imaging to Determine Inflorescence Initiation and Development in Olive. Bio-protocol 7(19): e2575. DOI: 10.21769/BioProtoc.2575.