Biomaterial Database

A simple method for staining nuclei of mature and germinated maize pollen. 1989

M T Chang, and M G Neuffer

Garst/ICI Seeds, Slater, IA 50244.

A sugar acetocarmine staining technique has been developed for staining the sperm and vegetative nucleus of mature and germinated maize pollen grains. This procedure is simple, stable and highly repeatable. The physiological properties of the mature maize pollen grains are first adjusted by using an in vitro germinating culture solution. This solution is 15% sucrose and contains 360 ppm calcium chloride dihydrate, and 120 ppm boric acid. One part fresh pollen grains is uniformly mixed with nine parts of the solution and left at room temperature for at least 5 hr. One part of this solution is then mixed with two parts of regular acetocarmine stain and left overnight. The color of this mixture is pinkish red or raspberry. The sugar in the mixture helps to increase color contrast between the pollen cytoplasm (light pink) and the nuclei (reddish purple), decreases the frequency of burst pollen, increases pollen expansion, stabilizes pollen figures and automatically seals the coverglass.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011058	Pollen	The fertilizing element of plants that contains the male GAMETOPHYTES.	Male Gametes, Plant,Male Gametophytes,Microspores, Plant,Plant Microspores,Pollen Grains,Gamete, Plant Male,Gametes, Plant Male,Gametophyte, Male,Gametophytes, Male,Grain, Pollen,Grains, Pollen,Male Gamete, Plant,Male Gametophyte,Microspore, Plant,Plant Male Gamete,Plant Male Gametes,Plant Microspore,Pollen Grain
D002329	Carmine	Coloring matter from the insect Coccus cacti L. It is used in foods, pharmaceuticals, toiletries, etc., as a dye, and also has use as a microscopic stain and biological marker.	Coccinellin,Natural Red 4,7-Glucopyranosyl-3,5,6,8-tetrahydroxyl-1-methyl-9,10-dioxoanthracene-2-carboxylic Acid,C.I. 75470,Carminic Acid,Cochineal Dye,Dye, Cochineal
D002467	Cell Nucleus	Within a eukaryotic cell, a membrane-limited body which contains chromosomes and one or more nucleoli (CELL NUCLEOLUS). The nuclear membrane consists of a double unit-type membrane which is perforated by a number of pores; the outermost membrane is continuous with the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM. A cell may contain more than one nucleus. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Cell Nuclei,Nuclei, Cell,Nucleus, Cell
D003313	Zea mays	A plant species of the family POACEAE. It is a tall grass grown for its EDIBLE GRAIN, corn, used as food and animal FODDER.	Corn,Indian Corn,Maize,Teosinte,Zea,Corn, Indian
D000880	Anthraquinones	Compounds based on ANTHRACENES which contain two KETONES in any position. Substitutions can be in any position except on the ketone groups.	Anthracenedione,Anthracenediones,Anthranoid,Anthraquinone,Anthraquinone Compound,Anthraquinone Derivative,Dianthraquinones,Dianthrones,Anthranoids,Anthraquinone Compounds,Anthraquinone Derivatives,Compound, Anthraquinone,Derivative, Anthraquinone
D013194	Staining and Labeling	The marking of biological material with a dye or other reagent for the purpose of identifying and quantitating components of tissues, cells or their extracts.	Histological Labeling,Staining,Histological Labelings,Labeling and Staining,Labeling, Histological,Labelings, Histological,Stainings