Live imaging of Arabidopsis shoot primordia via a confocal laser scanning microscope

Live imaging through confocal laser scanning microscopy enables the recording, analysis, and comparison of the dynamics of shapes and gene expression patterns of plant shoot apical meristems (SAMs) or primordia. Here, we provide a protocol to describe the preparation process of imaging Arabidopsis SAMs and primordia using a confocal microscope. We describe steps for dissection, visualization of meristems using dyes and fluorescent proteins, and gain 3D morphology of meristems. We then detail analysis of shoot meristems using time-lapse imaging. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Peng et al. (2022).¹.