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Guard Cells Under Microscope

Guard cells are specialized cells that flank the stomata on leaf surfaces, appearing kidney-shaped in dicots and dumbbell-shaped in monocots. They have unevenly thickened cell walls, visible nuclei, and contain chloroplasts, distinguishing them from surrounding epidermal cells. For observation, a compound microscope at 100x–400x magnification is recommended, with staining techniques for enhanced visibility.

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Htoo Myat Nyein
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62 views2 pages

Guard Cells Under Microscope

Guard cells are specialized cells that flank the stomata on leaf surfaces, appearing kidney-shaped in dicots and dumbbell-shaped in monocots. They have unevenly thickened cell walls, visible nuclei, and contain chloroplasts, distinguishing them from surrounding epidermal cells. For observation, a compound microscope at 100x–400x magnification is recommended, with staining techniques for enhanced visibility.

Uploaded by

Htoo Myat Nyein
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Guard cells Under Microscope

Description

Under the microscope, guard cells appear as specialized, kidney-shaped (in


dicots) or dumbbell-shaped (in monocots) pairs of cells that flank a central
pore called the stoma (plural: stomata) on the surface of leaves, especially on
the lower epidermis.

Microscopic Appearance of Guard Cells:

●​ Guard cells are usually kidney-shaped in dicotyledonous plants


(e.g., bean, sunflower) and dumbbell-shaped in monocotyledonous
plants (e.g., grass, maize).
●​ They are located in pairs, forming an elliptical opening (stomatal
pore) between them.
●​ The cell wall is unevenly thickened—the inner wall (towards the
stoma) is thicker and less elastic, while the outer wall is thinner and
more flexible, allowing the stoma to open and close with changes in
turgor pressure.
●​ Guard cells have visible nuclei, which helps distinguish them from
surrounding epidermal cells.
●​ Chloroplasts are present in guard cells, unlike most other epidermal
cells, making them appear greener or more granular under higher
magnification and proper lighting.
●​ Under high magnification (typically 400x or more), cytoplasmic
streaming and the green chloroplasts are often visible within the
guard cells.
●​ The surrounding epidermal cells are more elongated and irregular,
and they lack chloroplasts, which helps highlight the contrast.
●​ When stained with iodine or safranin, the cell walls and nuclei
become more prominent for clearer observation.
●​ In open stomata, the stoma appears as a clear slit or pore between
the two guard cells; in closed stomata, the guard cells appear
pressed together with little or no visible gap.
Observation Tips:

●​ Best observed using a peel from the lower epidermis of a leaf (e.g.,
from Rhoeo, Tradescantia, or Hibiscus) mounted in water or
glycerine.
●​ Use bright-field microscopy at 100x–400x magnification.
●​ Apply safranin or iodine stain for better contrast if unstained cells
are difficult to differentiate.
●​ Guard cells are more abundant on the lower epidermis than on the
upper surface.

Key Identification Features:

●​ Kidney or dumbbell shape.


●​ Present in pairs, forming a pore between them.
●​ Contain chloroplasts (green coloration under natural light).
●​ Unequal cell wall thickness.
●​ Surrounded by non-green epidermal cells.

Equipment

Compound Microscope

Magnification

40x, 100x, 400x

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