Using Silicon Polymer Impression Technique and Scanning Electron Microscopy to Measure Stomatal Aperture, Morphology, and Density

Hui-Chen Wu; Ya-Chen Huang; Chia-Hung Liu; Tsung-Luo Jinn

doi:10.21769/BioProtoc.2449

Using Silicon Polymer Impression Technique and Scanning Electron Microscopy to Measure Stomatal Aperture, Morphology, and Density

Bio Protoc. 2017 Aug 20;7(16):e2449. doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.2449.

Authors

Hui-Chen Wu¹, Ya-Chen Huang², Chia-Hung Liu², Tsung-Luo Jinn²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological Sciences and Technology, National University of Tainan, Tainan, Taiwan.
² Department of Life Science and Institute of Plant Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract

The number of stomata on leaves can be affected by intrinsic development programming and various environmental factors, in addition the control of stomatal apertures is extremely important for the plant stress response. In response to elevated temperatures, transpiration occurs through the stomatal apertures, allowing the leaf to cool through water evaporation. As such, monitoring of stomata behavior to elevated temperatures remains as an important area of research. The protocol allows analysis of stomatal aperture, morphology, and density through a non-destructive imprint of Arabidopsis thaliana leaf surface. Stomatal counts were performed and observed under a scanning electron microscope.

Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana; Heat stress; Non-destructive imprint; Scanning electron microscope; Stomata.