Preparation of samples for leaf architecture studies, a method for mounting cleared leaves

Area of Science:

• Botany
• Plant Science
• Morphology

Background:

• Leaf architecture studies have seen increased interest across disciplines.
• Existing leaf mounting techniques are scarce and lead to sample deterioration.
• Current methods for mounting cleared leaves yield unsatisfactory and short-lived results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a complete protocol for clearing, staining, and imaging leaves.
• To introduce a novel, permanent method for mounting cleared leaves.
• To address the limitations of current leaf mounting techniques.

Main Methods:

• Development of a comprehensive protocol for leaf clearing, staining, and imaging.
• Introduction of a new, permanent leaf mounting technique.
• Evaluation of the long-term preservation quality of mounted specimens.

Main Results:

• A complete protocol for leaf clearing, staining, and imaging is presented.
• A novel, permanent leaf mounting method has been developed.
• Mounted specimens exhibit excellent preservation without bubbling or discoloration for over 35 years.

Conclusions:

• The new mounting protocol is fast, inexpensive, and straightforward.
• It yields clear, permanent leaf samples suitable for imaging, scanning, and storage.
• This method ensures long-term specimen preservation, overcoming issues of bubbling and discoloration.