Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy of Surface Structures of the Fungal Cell Wall

Abstract

For several decades scanning electron microscopy has been used for the morphological examination of fungal cells. The recently introduced low temperature or cryo scanning electron microscopy (LTSEM) has proven advantages over the more conventional methods (Beckett and Read, 1986). Mycelium and propagules in the frozen, fully hydrated state show little shrinkage and resemble the morphology of the natural state, in terms of dimensions and surface textures Important information on the presence of extracellular mucilaginous or crystalline material and extremely fragile fungal structures can be examined. LTSEM is also useful when studying the interactions of fungi with plants and animals because of the rapid fixation of the material. The direct observation of frozen-hydrated fungal specimens by LTSEM, is now routine practice in several laboratories and good results are achieved. However, the technique also has its limitations and, when misapplied, artefacts can be introduced.