Effects of different preparation techniques on the microstructural features of biological materials for scanning electron microscopy

Abstract The biological materials such as potato tissue are made up of thin-walled, liquid-filled foam-like parenchyma cells. The sample preparation for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) by standard fixation, critical point drying (CPD) and freeze-drying result in shrinkage of cell walls. The hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) as a time-saving and inexpensive chemical drying was used for sample preparation. However, the effect of HMDS drying on potato microstructure for SEM has not been investigated. This study compares 12 different preparation techniques of potato tissue to determine the best preservation of cellular structures by image analysis. Image analysis is a quantitative method for measuring the tissue microstructural features includes such as cell area, cell perimeter and cell roundness. Air drying and freeze-drying significantly altered the tissue dimensions (P