Abstract
Starch is a biologically and commercially important carbohydrate that is accumulated in plant storage organs, such as seed endosperm. Starch is water-insoluble and forms transparent grains, referred to as starch grains (SGs). SGs are easily stained by iodine solution and can be observed under a normal microscope. Technovit 7100 resin is suitable for preparation of thin sections from endosperm. The thin sections and iodine staining can visualize SGs clearly inside the endosperm cell. This protocol provides the procedures to prepare thin sections of Technovit 7100 resin from rice endosperm. It can also be applicable to the seeds of other plant species.Figure 1. Iodine-stained Technovit thin sections of matured endosperm cells in rice and barley. Starch grains (SGs) can be visualized as violet particles.
Materials and Reagents
Equipment
Figure 2. A wooden dowel
Procedure
Recipes
Acknowledgments
This work was funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (no. 23770046). This work was also supported by the following foundation; the Iijima Memorial Foundation for the Promotion of Food Science and Technology, the Japan Prize Foundation, Shorai Foundation for Science and Technology, Wesco Scientific Promotion Foundation, The Towa Foundation for Food Research, the Foundation of Skylark Food Science Institute and Oohara Foundation.
References
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