üBisch Granules on Tapetal Membranes in Anthers; Rapid Selective Staining by Spirit Blue

Decapitate the anther and squeeze out its contents into a drop of water on a clean slide coated with Haupt's adhesive. Let slides air dry and stain the preparations for 4-6 hr in 0.005% spirit-soluble aniline blue, prepared in 50% ethanol. Pass the slides through acetone, 10 min; 1:1 mixture of acetone and xylene, 5 min; and xylene. Mount in a resinous medium. The technique is effective for both fresh anthers and anthers fixed in FAA, Carnoy's fluid, 1:3 acetic alcohol, and 10% formalin (commercial). For fixed anthers, follow customary methods of paraffin embedding and microtomy.