A macerating ammonium oxalate fixative and schedule for some root meristems

0.25 % ammonium oxalate in a mixture of ethyl alcohol, chloroform, formaldehyde, acetic acid and hydrochloric acid works as a very fast and efficient macerating fixative for the root meristems ofAllium cepa, Allium sativum, Ornithogalum thyrsoides, Pisum sativum andVicia faba. Slicing the tip region of excised meristems hastens spindle poison pretreatment, fixation and staining. Owing to the dissolution of the middle lamella and eliminating a physical barrier to permeability an extremely rapid fixation and staining schedule involving several stains has thus been developed.