Red food coloring stain: new, safer procedures for staining nematodes in roots and egg masses on root surfaces

Acid fuchsin and phloxine B are commonly used to stain plant-parasitic nematodes in roots and egg masses on root surfaces, respectively. Both stains can be harmful to both the user and the environment and require costly waste disposal procedures. We developed safer methods to replace both stains using McCormick Schilling red food color. Eggs, juveniles, and adults of Meloidogyne incognita stained in roots with red food color were equally as visible as those stained with acid fuchsin. Egg masses stained with red food color appeared as bright-red spheres on the root surfaces and were highly visible even without magnification. Replacement of acid fuchsin and phloxine B with red food color for staining nematodes is safer for the user and the environment, and eliminates costly waste disposal of used stain solutions.