Staining Cell Constituents in Diseased Plant Tissues

Tissues of diseased plants, where embryonic cells, with dense cytoplasm, are to be studied cytologically in the same section with vacuolated cells, should best be killed with the Meves or Regaud fluids. The greatest changes in affected cells of diseased tissues are likely to occur in the vacuolar system, the contents of which should be well preserved in the killing process.

Staining with acid fuchsin and decolorizing with light green, makes it possible, in properly killed tissues, to detect the slightest alteration in tissues, and to observe the different parts of the cell, nucleus, mitochondria and plastids, even when excessive vacuolation compresses the cytoplasmic inclusions.