Histochemical localization of beta-glycosidases in roots of Zea mays. I. A simultaneous coupling azo-dye technique for the localization of beta-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase.

A simultaneous coupling azo dye technique using 6-bromo-2-naphthylβ-D-glucoside as substrate has been developed for the localization ofβ-glucosidase in hand sections of plant root tissue. This technique is also applicable toβ-galactosidase localization. Using corn root hairs and epidermal cells as an experimental system, the localization obtained in simultaneous coupling has been compared with that obtained in the older post-coupling method, and in various control sections. It is concluded that the localization obtained in root hairs in the post-coupling method is an artifact produced by diffusion of the product before coupling to substantive non-enzymatic sites in the cytoplasm.