Tissue analysis Protocols | Plant cell biology | Plant Science

Spatial Imaging and Quantification of Hydrogen Peroxide in Arabidopsis Roots: From Sample Preparation to Image Analysis

MF Mario Fenech

VA Vitor Amorim-Silva

0 Q&A

612 Views

Apr 20, 2026

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are central regulators of plant development and stress responses, with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) acting as a key signaling molecule whose spatial distribution determines adaptive versus damaging outcomes. Accurate detection of H₂O₂ at tissue and cellular resolution is therefore essential for understanding redox-dependent regulation of plant growth. A variety of techniques have been used to monitor H₂O₂, including bulk spectrophotometric and fluorometric assays, genetically encoded sensors for real-time measurements, and chemical probes for in situ detection. While these approaches differ in sensitivity, specificity, and temporal resolution, many are limited by a lack of spatial information, technical complexity, or dependence on transgenic material. Here, we present a detailed protocol for 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB)-based histochemical detection of H₂O₂ in seedling roots, covering staining, imaging, and semi-quantitative image analysis using open-source software (FIJI/ImageJ). The method relies on peroxidase-mediated oxidation of DAB, resulting in a stable, light-resistant, and insoluble precipitate that enables visualization of H₂O₂ accumulation with high spatial resolution. This protocol provides a robust, accessible, and genetically independent approach for spatial analysis of H₂O₂ in plant tissues. Its simplicity, compatibility with diverse genotypes and treatments, and suitability for semi-quantitative analysis make it a valuable tool for examining the spatial distribution of H₂O₂, thereby providing spatial insight into redox-related regulatory processes during plant development and stress responses.

Closed Systems to Study Plant–Filamentous Fungi Associations: Emphasis on Microscopic Analyses

VS Vasiliki Skiada

KP Kalliope K. Papadopoulou

0 Q&A

3065 Views

Feb 20, 2025

In nature, filamentous fungi interact with plants. These fungi are characterized by rapid growth in numerous substrates and under minimal nutrient requirements. Investigating the interaction of these fungi with their plant hosts under controlled conditions is of importance for many researchers aiming to proceed with molecular or microscopical investigations of their favorite plant–fungus interaction system. The speed of growth of these fungi complicates transferring plant–fungal interaction systems in laboratory conditions. The issue is more complicated when monoxenic conditions are desired, to ensure that only two members (a fungus and a plant) are present in the system under study. Here, two simple closed systems for investigating plant–filamentous fungi associations under laboratory, monoxenic conditions are described, along with their limitations. The plant and fungal growth conditions, methods for sampling, staining, sectioning, and subsequent microscopical imaging of colonized plant tissues with affordable, common laboratory tools are described.

An Image Analysis Pipeline to Quantify Emerging Cracks in Materials or Adhesion Defects in Living Tissues

Stéphane Verger

GC Guillaume Cerutti

OH Olivier Hamant

0 Q&A

6834 Views

Oct 5, 2018

Microcracks in materials reflect their mechanical properties. The quantification of the number or orientation of such cracks is thus essential in many fields, including engineering and geology. In biology, cracks in soft tissues can reflect adhesion defects, and the analysis of their pattern can help to deduce the magnitude and orientation of tensions in organs and tissues. Here, we describe a semi-automatic method amenable to analyze cell separations occurring in the epidermis of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Our protocol is applicable to any image exhibiting small cracks, and thus also adapted to the analysis of emerging cracks in animal tissues and materials.

Using Silicon Polymer Impression Technique and Scanning Electron Microscopy to Measure Stomatal Aperture, Morphology, and Density

HW Hui-Chen Wu

YH Ya-Chen Huang

CL Chia-Hung Liu

Tsung-Luo Jinn

0 Q&A

10450 Views

Aug 20, 2017

The number of stomata on leaves can be affected by intrinsic development programming and various environmental factors, in addition the control of stomatal apertures is extremely important for the plant stress response. In response to elevated temperatures, transpiration occurs through the stomatal apertures, allowing the leaf to cool through water evaporation. As such, monitoring of stomata behavior to elevated temperatures remains as an important area of research. The protocol allows analysis of stomatal aperture, morphology, and density through a non-destructive imprint of Arabidopsis thaliana leaf surface. Stomatal counts were performed and observed under a scanning electron microscope.

Root Aliphatic Suberin Analysis Using Non-extraction or Solvent-extraction Methods

CD Camille Delude

Sollapura J. Vishwanath

OR Owen Rowland

Frédéric Domergue

1 Q&A

10730 Views

Jun 20, 2017

Here we describe both non-extraction and solvent-extraction methods for root aliphatic suberin analysis. The non-extraction method is fast as roots are directly depolymerized using acidic transmethylation. However, suberin aliphatic components are isolated together with all the other acyl chains making up the lipids (e.g., membranes) present in roots. For the solvent-extraction method, roots are first delipidated before transmethylation. This method is longer but allows separation of soluble and polymerized root lipids. This protocol is optimized for tissue culture- or soil-grown Arabidopsis thaliana plants, but can be used with roots of other plants.

Determining Genome Size from Spores of Seedless Vascular Plants

LK Li-Yaung Kuo

YH Yao-Moan Huang

0 Q&A

8952 Views

Jun 5, 2017

Seedless vascular plants, including ferns and lycophytes, produce spores to initiate the gametophyte stage and to complete sexual reproduction. Approximately 10% of them are apomictic through the production of genomic unreduced spores. Being able to measure the spore nuclear DNA content is therefore important to infer their reproduction mode. Here we present a protocol of spore flow cytometry that allows an efficient determination of the reproductive modes of seedless vascular plants.

Documentation of Floral Secretory Glands in Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae) Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

AK Adam P. Karremans

Bv Bertie Joan van Heuven

RL Rob Langelaan

BG Barbara Gravendeel

0 Q&A

10561 Views

Nov 20, 2016

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.

Cell Wall-bound p-Coumaric and Ferulic Acid Analysis

NA Nickolas Anderson

0 Q&A

8217 Views

Oct 5, 2016

Hydroxycinnamic acids, such as p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid, are a major class of compounds derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway. These compounds are widely conserved in plants and primarily accumulate in the secondary cell wall. They serve as important structural components that contribute to the overall strength and rigidity of plant cell walls and are also potent antioxidants valued for nutritional consumption. This protocol describes a method for analyzing hydroxycinnamic acids that are released after incubation under alkaline conditions.

Sample Preparation for X-ray Micro-computed Tomography of Woody Plant Material and Associated Xylem Visualisation Techniques

NB Nicholas J. B. Brereton

0 Q&A

10813 Views

Mar 20, 2016

Variation in the tissue structure of short rotation coppice (SRC) willow is a principle factor driving differences in lignocellulosic sugar yield yet much of the physiology and development of this tissue is unknown. Traditional sectioning can be both difficult and destructive in woody tissue; however, technology such as three dimensional X-ray micro-computational tomography (μCT) scanning can be used to move biological researchers beyond traditional two dimensional assessment of tissue variation without having to destructively cut cells. This technology does not replace classical microscopic techniques but rather can be carefully integrated with traditional methods to improve exploration of the world of plant biology in three dimensions. The procedures below outline preparation of willow for 3D X-ray μCT and associated xylem staining and visualisation techniques, in particular secondary xylem programmed-cell-death (PCD) delay during gelatinous fibre (g-fibre) development. Many of the staining techniques here are transferable to other woody species such as poplar and Eucalyptus.

Extraction of Intracellular and Cell Wall Proteins from Leaves and Roots of Harsh Hakea

MS Michael W. Shane

William C. Plaxton

0 Q&A

9866 Views

Dec 5, 2015

Plant proteins can be targeted to intracellular (i.e., cytosol, vacuole, organelles etc.) or extracellular (i.e., cell walls, apoplast) compartments. Dual targeting is a key mechanism with important implications for plant metabolism, growth, development and defense etc. Harsh Hakea (Hakea prostrata R.Br.) is a perennial species and member of the Proteaceae family that thrives on extremely phosphate impoverished soils of southwestern Australia. Harsh Hakea is not a common model organism, but has been widely developed for physiological and molecular/biochemical studies of the endogenous adaptations of an ‘extremophile’ plant species to abiotic stress, including low phosphorus tolerance. Tissues of Harsh Hakea contain large amounts of compounds (e.g., phenolics) that interfere with the extraction of soluble proteins. We previously optimised extraction of intracellular proteins from Harsh Hakea proteoid roots to improve soluble protein yield by at least 10-fold (Shane et al., 2013). Here, we describe the protocol for extraction and separation of intracellular from ‘loosely bound’ cell-wall proteins in Harsh Hakea.