Application of an innovative technique for histological and histochemical study of different vegetal tissues

Abstract

A new original "cryostabilization" technique (Dore, 1992; Dore et al, 2004) was applied to different animal tissues and organs. In this study, we apply this technique also to vegetal tissues (ripening and ripe fleshy fruits, buds and embryos). The proposed method preserves good tissue morphology and intracellular substances, and avoids loss of epicuticular waxes; moreover it maintains in situ some enzymatic activities. Being some samples very difficult to handle the original protocol had to be modified. The correct orientation in embedding of samples is an important requirement which is not easy to achieve when deadling with small fragments of tissues.

Keywords

• cryostabilization, embedding, polar resin (GMA), agar, fruit trees