Bivariate cytofluorimetric analysis of DNA and nuclear protein content in plant tissue

Summary Techniques of static biparametric cytofluorimetry were developed to measure DNA and protein fluorescence simultaneously in the same nucleus stained with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) fluorochromes. With these cytofluorimetric procedures, we analysed DNA and nuclear protein content in root apices during the first 72 h of pea seed germination. This method allows a more reliable, rapid and less expensive measurement of DNA and proteins than cytophotometry. Nuclear protein content can be considered as a second parameter to define subcompartments of cell cycle phases; it offers the possibility of studying the progression of plant cells through cell cycle and its control in greater detail.Abbreviations DAPI 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole - FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate - PI propidium iodide - Tris Tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane