Methanol as a rapid fixative for the investigation of plant surfaces by SEM

A rapid fixation/dehydration method of plant specimens for scanning electron microscopy is presented. Prior to critical-point drying (CPD) the specimens are immersed in pure methanol. Methanol incubation instantly fixes the elastically extended cell walls. Owing to this instant fixation. shrinking of the specimens is prevented. resulting in an improved preservation of cell dimensions comparable to in vivo conditions. The method is most suitable for plant epidermal surfaces. It avoids the time-consuming fixation/dehydration in routine investigation of plant surfaces prior to CPD, especially for delicate specimens.