An inexpensive and environmentally friendly staining method for semi-permanent slides from plant material probed using anatomical and computational chemistry analyses

Abstract

Abstract One of the main methods for plant anatomy study is the analysis of thin, transparent, and stained tissue sections. Synthetic dyes traditionally used in anatomical studies might be expensive and produced by specific companies. In contrast, the use of alternative industrial dyes can both represent an inexpensive substitute as well as an environmentally friendly option for conducting plant anatomy studies. In this study, a set of 22 textile dyes was evaluated. Transversal-, longitudinal, and paradermal sections of plant organs obtained using the freehand cutting technique were stained using hydroalcoholic solution (0 to 100%) of textile dyes purchased from a local market. Dyes mixed with 50% hydroalcoholic solution showed higher efficiency in tissue contrast, allowing greater solubility of dye powder and better solution interaction with the plant tissues. Most of the tested dyes showed satisfactory staining results. Cell wall, especially lignified one, showed higher staining efficiency. Computational docking analysis and molecular models of cellulose and lignin showed the probable association mechanisms and dye selectivity to cell wall constituents. Our findings suggest that the developed method can be useful in mixed practical classes of plant anatomy, chemistry, and/or biochemistry, both at high school as well as undergraduate levels.