RAPID CHEMICAL DEHYDRATION OF PLANT MATERIAL FOR LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPY WITH 2,2‐DIMETHOXYPROPANE AND 2,2‐DIETHOXYPROPANE

Abstract

A rapid and simple procedure was used for chemical dehydration of plant tissue during sample preparation for light and electron microscopy. Chemically fixed tissues were washed with distilled water and then rapidly dehydrated with either 2,2‐dimethoxypropane or 2,2‐diethoxypropane for 15 minutes. Light microscopic observation of paraffin‐embedded tissue or tissue embedded in Spurr's plastic showed excellent preservation. Electron microscopic examination of plastic‐embedded tissue showed well maintained ultrastructural morphology. The dehydration procedure was also successfully applied to plant tissue destined for examination in a scanning electron microscope.