What Dye to Use for Plant Stem Cross Section

[Swapnil]

What Dye to Use??

Do you guys know what kind of chemical/dye should I use if I have a cross section of a plant stem and if I want to see it under a optical microscope?

 

[iansmith]

Crystal violet is a fairly standard stain for simple microscopy.

 

[jim mcnamara]

Generally, stains are used to highlight particular plant tissues. Phloroglucinol highlights xylem (woody) cells, for example.

Toluidine blue stains xylem blue-green, phloem becomes pink.

 

[Swapnil]

Thanks! But wouldn't a simple food dye do the trick??

If not, where can I get phloroglucinol or toluidine blue?

P.S. I actually just want to locate the xylem and the phloem in the cross section of the stem of my plant.

 

[jim mcnamara]

I don't know where you are, but "science education" stores in the US have little microscope kits that have those stains.

I have no idea what food dyes will do. Try them before you buy stains.

 

[Swapnil]

Thanks again! Can I buy these chemicals (crystal violet, phloroglucinol, and toluidine blue) from some local store (if so, then which?) or do I need to order them online (if so, then what are some good online stores?).

Also, I tried searching for the aforementioned chemicals at my local chemical dispensary at my college but they didn't had them.
Are there any other chemicals that you guys know of which could be used to illuminate crucial plant tissues inside the stem?

 

[jim mcnamara]

Okay - There are tropical fish medicines which are blue. Some are green.

Both will work as plant cells stains. I forget which one does what, but I think the blue acts like toluidine blue. Go to a pet store that handles tropical fish.

Carolina Biological supply has a huge online catalog. toluidine blue 2%
https://www2.carolina.com/webapp/wc...d=4203&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=&crumbs=n