Articles
THE USE OF CRYO-SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY TO STUDY FLOWER INITIATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN STRAWBERRY
Article number
439_106
Pages
641 – 644
Language
Abstract
The technique of cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) was used to study and record the morphology of flower initiation and development in strawberry.
Plants of the June-bearing cultivar Elsanta were grown under controlled temperature and long-day (LD) conditions (min. 16 hr daylength), to maintain them in a vegetative state.
Batches of plants were transferred to a controlled environment (CE) cabinet and subjected to a sufficient number of short-day (SD) cycles (8 hr daylength) to induce flower initiation.
After treatment, plants were moved to another CE cabinet maintained under LD and samples were subsequently removed at 2–4 day intervals.
The developing flowers/inflorescences from each sample plant were exposed by apical dissection and then prepared for examination by cryo-SEM. Micrographs were taken to record the various morphological changes that occur during flower development, from the first discernible signs of floral initiation at the apex until the immediate post-pollination period.
The technique of cryo-SEM was found to be excellent for studying the detailed morphology of strawberry floral development and offers many advantages over normal light microscopy, or SEM procedures using critical point drying for sample preparation.
Plants of the June-bearing cultivar Elsanta were grown under controlled temperature and long-day (LD) conditions (min. 16 hr daylength), to maintain them in a vegetative state.
Batches of plants were transferred to a controlled environment (CE) cabinet and subjected to a sufficient number of short-day (SD) cycles (8 hr daylength) to induce flower initiation.
After treatment, plants were moved to another CE cabinet maintained under LD and samples were subsequently removed at 2–4 day intervals.
The developing flowers/inflorescences from each sample plant were exposed by apical dissection and then prepared for examination by cryo-SEM. Micrographs were taken to record the various morphological changes that occur during flower development, from the first discernible signs of floral initiation at the apex until the immediate post-pollination period.
The technique of cryo-SEM was found to be excellent for studying the detailed morphology of strawberry floral development and offers many advantages over normal light microscopy, or SEM procedures using critical point drying for sample preparation.
Publication
Authors
D.R. Taylor, M.F. Wickenden, C.M. Crisp, P.T. Atkey
Keywords
Fragaria x ananassa, June-bearing cultivar, cryo-SEM, cryo-fixation, morphology
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