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Updated: Jan 13, 2026
Histochemical Staining of Arabidopsis thaliana Secondary Cell Wall Elements
Published on: May 13, 2014
Fluorescence staining of the nucleus in living plant cells using dimidium bromide
Shintaro Ichikawa1,2, Miho Kitamura1, Yutaka Kodama1,2
1Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi 321-8505, Japan.
Abstract:
Nuclear staining using fluorescent dyes is crucial for cytological studies in plants. However, few fluorescent dyes are suitable for live-cell imaging of the nucleus. Here, we demonstrate that dimidium bromide (DimBr), a commercially available fluorescent dye, can be used to stain the nucleus (nucleolus and nucleoplasm) in living plant cells. DimBr emits peak fluorescence at 600 nm at an excitation wavelength of 525 nm, making it well suited for use with green fluorescent protein. DimBr staining can be used in various plant species and allows time-lapse observation of the nucleus. Therefore, DimBr can be used to visualize the nucleus in living plant cells, making it a valuable tool for plant cell biology.
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