Imaging of early conifer embryogenic tissues with the environmental scanning electron microscope

Abstract

This article describes the usage of non-commercial environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) for the visualization of plant extracellular matrix in Abies alba and Abies numidica. Non sputter-coated samples free of using the common fixation technique observed at the relatively low humidity of the air environment with the pressure 550 Pa and the low temperature of the sample from -18 to -22°C give surprisingly very good results that show the natural structure of the tissues. This seems to be generally applicable. Moreover, a specially designed ionization detector of secondary electrons and a YAG:Ce3+ detector of backscattered electrons were used for better comparison.