Autoflorescence: Nature's Dye Unearthed by Microscopes

Transverse section of in vitro grown somatic seedling of Sandalwood.

Submitted by Mr Biswapriya Biswavas Misra (Graduate Student) C/o: Dr. Satyahari Dey Professor, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, Zip code: 721302 Cell phone: +91-9735444199 Email: siku23mishra@gmail.com

Hand-cut section by razor blade, placed on a slide and viewed in an Olympus inverted phase-contrast microscope (Model PM- 10AD5) equipped with a Nikon camera. M = 10 (EP) x 20 (Obj). A sandalwood (Santalum album L.) somatic seedling, developed by in vitro plant tissue culture, observed under UV- florescence, showing the yellow florescent vasculature at central stele and collencymatous patches. Yellow epidermal layers and red autoflorescence of chlorophylous tissues also visible. No dyes and stains used.