Cell surface and cell outline imaging in plant tissues using the backscattered electron detector in a variable pressure scanning electron microscope.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used for high-resolution imaging of plant cell surfaces for many decades. Most SEM imaging employs the secondary electron detector under high vacuum to provide pseudo-3D images of plant organs and especially of surface structures such as trichomes and stomatal guard cells; these samples generally have to be metal-coated to avoid charging artefacts. Variable pressure-SEM allows examination of uncoated tissues, and provides a flexible range of options for imaging, either with a secondary electron detector or backscattered electron detector. In one application, we used the backscattered electron detector under low vacuum conditions to collect images of uncoated barley leaf tissue followed by simple quantification of cell areas.

SUBMITTER: Talbot MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3853341 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature