A step-by-step protocol for meiotic chromosome counts in flowering plants: A powerful and economical technique revisited.
Journal Article
Premise
Counting chromosomes is a fundamental botanical technique, yet it is often intimidating and increasingly sidestepped. Once mastered, the basic protocol can be applied to a broad range of taxa and research questions. It also reveals an aspect of the plant genome that is accessible with only the most basic of resources-access to a microscope with 1000× magnification is the most limiting factor.Methods and results
Here we provide a detailed protocol for choosing, staining, and squashing angiosperm pollen mother cells. The protocol is supplemented by figures and two demonstration videos.Conclusions
The protocol we provide will hopefully demystify and reinvigorate a powerful and once commonplace botanical technique that is available to researchers regardless of their location and resources.Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Windham, MD; Pryer, KM; Poindexter, DB; Li, F-W; Rothfels, CJ; Beck, JB
Published Date
- April 23, 2020
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 8 / 4
Start / End Page
- e11342 -
PubMed ID
- 33224637
Pubmed Central ID
- 33224637
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 2168-0450
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 2168-0450
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1002/aps3.11342
Language
- eng