Abstract
A clear, step by step description of the treatment of orchid flowers, subtribe Pleurothallidinae, with Critical Point Drying for SEM is presented. It shows that a simple, short fixation and dehydration method prior to Critical Point Drying is sufficient to obtain good results.
Background
Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae) have relatively small flowers that exhibit a wide variety of ornaments on the perianth parts, especially on the sepals and lip. It is clear that most of those play an important role in attracting and arresting pollinators, which in most cases are known to be small flies. However, it is difficult to judge just from looking at photographs from the stereoscopic microscope if the observable thickenings, papillae or hairs are actually secretory glands. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) can be a powerful tool to explore these flowers in greater detail, aiding to locate, compare and identify those glands (Karremans et al., 2015).
Materials and Reagents
Equipment
Software
Procedure
Notes
Acknowledgments
The Alberta Mennega Foundation funded the first author at several stages of the study that resulted in the protocol here described. This protocol has been modified from the original application booklet by Leica Microsystems.
References
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