Experiment 1
Prepara on of temporary mount of stomata
Stomata are ny openings or pores which are commonly no ced being
distributed on the epidermis of the leaves and also in young stems.Stomata
carry out the func on of regula ng gas exchange and water vapour between
the leaves of the plant and the atmosphere.
Aim
To prepare a temporary mount of a leaf peel in order to show the stomata of a
leaf
Principle
Plants are the primary producers. They carry out physiological processes such
as photosynthesis and respira on which requires a gas exchange between the
ssues of plants and the atmosphere. This process is carried out through ny
openings located in leaves, known as stomata.
Material Required
A po ed plant of Tradescan a
Needles
Forceps
Watch glass
Dropper
Glass slides
A brush
Coverslips
Blo ng paper
Safranin
Compound microscope
Glycerin
Procedure
Pick a healthy leaf from the po ed plant.
Fold the leaf to gently pull the peel apart to separate a peeled sec on.
from the lower surface of the leaf. Use the forceps to perform this step.
Allow the peel to remain in a watch glass holding water for some me.
In the watch glass, stain the sample by adding some drops of safranin
through a dropper.
Take the peel out a er 2-3 minutes. Set it on a clear glass slide
Add a drop of glycerin on the peel. Put a clear coverslip over it gently
using a needle.
Excess glycerin and stain can be removed using blo ng paper
Examine the slide first under a low-power and then under a high-power
magnifica on of a compound microscope.
Observa on
Visible epidermal cells. The cells in their outline are irregular with no
intercellular spaces
Small openings, stomata are sca ered through the epidermal cells
Guard cells are observed which have chloroplasts and nucleus
Guard cells are observed having a thin outer covering and a thick inner
boundary(concave)
Guard cells control the closing and opening of the stomata.
Conclusions
Epidermal cells are found containing stomata on the lower surfaces of
the leaf.
Precau ons
Avoid folding the leaf too much. The peel should be snipped to a proper
size
The peel should always be placed at the centre of the slide and the slides
should be held from the sides.
The peel should neither be overstrained nor under strained
A brush should be used to handle the peel, otherwise would damage
cells.
Glycerin should be used in order to prevent drying of the peel
Coverslip needs to be placed in such a way that air bubbles are avoided
Blo ng paper can be used to remove excess stain
