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Microscopic Examination of Wood: Sample Preparation and Techniques for Light Microscopy

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Plant Microtechniques and Protocols

Abstract

The need to produce high-quality thin sections of wood material encompasses many fields of scientific investigations. We present here an overview of some of the techniques used to produce high-quality thin sections of woody stems. The detailed information provided in this chapter covers sample preparation including softening procedures, sectioning using a microtome as well as basic staining, dehydration, clearing, and mounting procedures. The procedures described do not require embedding of the stem material prior to sectioning. An update on new developments in wood anatomy of tree rings, as well as information on frequent problems and advice on how to solve them, is also provided. The methods presented can be used in both systematic and practical anatomical studies using reflected and transmitted light microscopy and where photomicrography or image analysis is needed.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. H. Gärtner for providing constructive comments on an earlier draft of this chapter. We are also thankful to the numerous undergraduate students who participated over the years in the dendrochronology course at the University of Winnipeg and also to both undergraduate and graduate students who participated in research or completed a thesis related to anatomical characteristics of tree rings. We thank Dr. F. Schweingruber for communicating his passion about wood/stem anatomy . We also thank the biology department technicians L. Buchanan and B. Van Dekerkhove for providing assistance and the librarians of the University of Winnipeg for tracking down rare books and journals, and securing them through inter-library loan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research (C-FIR), Departments of Biology/Environmental Studies and Sciences, University of Winnipeg, R3B 2E9, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Jacques C. Tardif & France Conciatori

Authors
  1. Jacques C. Tardif
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  2. France Conciatori
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Correspondence to Jacques C. Tardif .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, CALGARY, Alberta, Canada

    Edward Chee Tak Yeung

  2. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Claudio Stasolla

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Michael John Sumner

  4. Center for Basic Research in Digestive Disease, Mayo Clinic , Rochester, Minnesota, USA

    Bing Quan Huang

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Tardif, J., Conciatori, F. (2015). Microscopic Examination of Wood: Sample Preparation and Techniques for Light Microscopy. In: Yeung, E., Stasolla, C., Sumner, M., Huang, B. (eds) Plant Microtechniques and Protocols. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19944-3_22

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