Quick and Easy Fixation of Plant Tissues for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
Adapted from Arabidopsis: A Laboratory Manual (ed. Weigel and Glazebrook). CSHL Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA, 2002.INTRODUCTION
Standard fixation of samples for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) relies on toxic substances such as formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, and osmium tetroxide, and can take many hours to several days. This protocol describes an alternative fixation method with methanol, which is much less dangerous and very rapid. The results of this quick method are often as good as material fixed with osmium tetroxide.
