Protocol

Nuclear Staining of Plants for Confocal Microscopy

This protocol was adapted from "How to Analyze a Mutant Phenotypically," Chapter 4, in Arabidopsis by Detlef Weigel and Jane Glazebrook. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA, 2002.

INTRODUCTION

This protocol describes a useful way to observe the development of embryos, as well as meristems and young primordia developing at the shoot apex, by confocal microscopy after staining the nuclei with propidium iodide. The number of cells can be exactly quantified in a meristem or in young primordia. Because embryonic and meristematic cells are largely filled out by their nuclei, it is convenient to image only the nuclei. This method allows analysis of whole-mount material, which is more easily reconstructed than sectioned material.