Abstract Detail

Developmental and Structural Section

Bhawana, Bhawana [1], Miller, Joyce [2], Cahoon, Aubrey [2].

Visualization of 3-Dimensional Plant Cell Architecture with FIB-SEM.

Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) offers the ability to produce serial sections of materials and produce high quality SEM images. These images can be used to create 3-dimensional renderings of an object with micron level resolution. It has been primarily used for applications in materials sciences but has recently gained attention as a tool to study biological tissues. We have applied FIB-SEM to study Arabidopsis cell architecture. Our goals are to determine the efficacy of this technique in plant tissue/cellular studies and demonstrate its usefulness in studying organelle architecture and distribution. To date we have successfully used FIB-SEM to produce 3-dimensional renderings of cells from five different tissues: seed endosperm, leaf mesophyll, stem cortex, root cortex and petal lamina. These renderings are yielding unique visualizations of whole cell architecture. Organelles within the cells are easily identifiable and other structures such as internal membranous connections between mesophyll chloroplasts, distinct lipid bodies in endosperm, and starch grains in root cortex are distinguishable. We have also found that the best results have come from cytoplasmically dense cells. An explanation of the technique, serial sections, micrographs and 3D renderings of the completed tissues will be presented.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Molecular Biosciences, 610 Lynn Street, Apt - B, Murfreesboro, TN, 37129, USA
2 - Biology, 1301 E. Main St, Box 60, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA

Keywords:
FIB-SEM
Plant Cell Tomography.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 26
Location: Jasperwood/Riverside Hilton
Date: Tuesday, July 30th, 2013
Time: 11:30 AM
Number: 26006
Abstract ID:265
Candidate for Awards:Maynard F. Moseley Award