A rapid methyl salicylate clearing technique for routine phase-contrast observations on female meiosis in Solanum

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Date

1987-05

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Abstract

A rapid clearing technique, involving methyl salicylate clearing and phase-contrast microscopy, that enables large-scale observations on meiosis and embryo sac development in intact ovules of potato, was developed. With high resolution phase-contrast optics the details observed in cleared ovules were as well defined as in microtome sections and 'abnormalities' associated with desynapsis and 2n-megaspore formation were readily detected. In potato this ovule clearing technique offers certain advantages over earlier clearing and staining-clearing techniques and permits bulk preparation of ethanol (70%) stored ovaries shortly (1-5-2 h) before observation.

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Solanum, clearing technique, methyl salicylate, phase-contrast microscopy, megasporogenesis, megagametogenesis

Citation

Journal of Microscopy Vol.146 Pt.2, May 1987,pp.157-162

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