Flower cells in 3D
3 Jun 2015 by Evoluted New Media
Scientists have developed a new low-cost method for high-resolution 3D imaging of plant cells.
A research team at the University of Florida used optical-sectioning and 3D reconstruction and produced high-resolution imaging of floral cellular structures.
“We believe that any kind of tissue that can be mounted on a microscope slide will be possible to image,” said PhD candidate and team member, Jacob Landis.
In the study, published in Applications in Plant Sciences, the team developed an optical sectioning-3D reconstruction method by using a compound fluorescence light microscope. The microscope and camera capture pictures of several layers, and planes, of the sample material – the images are then reconstructed into a final 3D image. The team tested their new method on woodland plant group Saltugilia and observed the epidermal cells of the surface leaves surrounding the petals.
To remove the waxy film that protects the outer layer of petal cells, the team preserved the material by dehydrating it in ethanol. This also allowed clear visualisation months after sample collection. The scientists then mounted the samples in a fluorescent dye to help visualisation of details under the microscope.
Landis said: “For visualising cells of a variety of plant material, there are alternatives to the commonly used SEM. Some of these alternatives may be more easily accessible to researchers and do not require specialised equipment for processing prior to imaging.
“I have spent a lot of time using SEM and prepping samples, and optical sectioning with 3D reconstruction is by far the simplest and most cost-effective method I have ever used.”
