title: Feulgen, iron-propionocarmine and cupra-ammonium in preparing algal chromosomes for light microscopy.
abstract: A method for obtaining algal chromosomal preparations is described employing the Feulgen method for DNA staining, Fe-propionocarmine as an enhancing stain, and cupra-ammonium to remove cell wall material. Fe-propionocarmine applied as a gradient to the side provides cells stained with the Feulgen stain alone or with the Feulgen Fe-propionocarmine stain, thereby facilitating useful comparison. Where dilute the Fe-propionocarmine enhances nuclear staining without staining orthe organelles; where more concentration it also stains the nucleolus, spindle, spindle polar bodies, pyrenoid and protoplast. Treatment with cupra-ammonium, to remove polysaccharide wall material, followed by neutralization with propionocarmine, enables thinner squashes and better chromosome spreads without loss of differential staining. Preparations mounted in euparal are long-lasting.
mesh_terms: D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013045:Species Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides