Practical no 1
Temporary preparation of Stomata (on the ruled page/ right hand side)
Aim: To prepare a temporary slide and observe stomata under a compound microscope.
Materials required: Watch glass, dropper, forceps, stain- safranin, glycerine, brush, needle, petri dish, glass slide, cover slip, compound microscope.
Procedure:
- Fold the leaf and carefully tear along the bruised area of the lower side of the leaf.
- We can see a colourless narrow border along the torn edge.
- Carefully pull out the thin membranous transparent layer from the lower epidermis using a forceps.
- Put the epidermis into a watch glass containing distilled water.
- Take few drops of Safranin solution using a dropper and transfer this into another watch glass.
- Using a brush transfer the epidermis into the watch glass containing the Safranin solution.
- Keep the epidermis for 30 sec in the Safranin solution to stain the peel.
- To remove excess stain sticking to the peel, place it again in the watch glass containing water.
- Place the peel onto a clean glass slide using the brush.
- Take a few drops of glycerine using a dropper and pour this on the peel.
- Using a needle, place a cover slip over the epidermis gently.
- Drain out the excess glycerine using a blotting paper.
- Take the glass slide and place it on the stage of the compound microscope.
- Examine the slide through the lens of the compound microscope.
Precautions
- The epidermal peel should be taken from a freshly-plucked leaf.
- Take the epidermal layer from the lower surface of a leaf, as it has more stomata.
- Always use a clean glass slide.
Inference/ result: Stomata are present in the epidermal cells of the lower surface of the leaf. through which they carry out gaseous exchange and transpiration.
Experimental setup:
Observations:
- The epidermis is made of layers of cells that have distinct cell walls, a nucleus and cytoplasm, and are closely packed.
- The epidermal layers are broken at places. These openings are the stomata.
- Each stoma is guarded by a pair of bean shaped cells that are guard cells.
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