title: DAPI staining and fluorescence microscopy techniques for phytoplasmas.
abstract: The 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) stain technique is a simple method that was developed for confirming the presence of phytoplasmas in hand-cut or freezing microtome sections of infected tissues. DAPI binds AT-rich DNA preferentially, so that phytoplasmas, localized among phloem cells, can be visualized in a fluorescence microscope. The procedure is quick, easy to use, inexpensive, and can be used as a preliminary or quantitative method to detect or quantify phytoplasma-like bodies in infected plants.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Production and Plant Protection, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile. nandrade@uach.cl
authors.forename: Nancy M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Nolberto L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Arismendi
mesh_terms: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D031282:Gaultheria / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D007211:Indoles; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D045582:Phytoplasma / Q000166:cytology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007211:Indoles; C007293:DAPI