IMPROVEMENTS FOR OBSERVING ANTHURIUM (ARACEAE) FLORAL STRUCTURES BY LIGHT-MICROSCOPY

Three major obstacles must be overcome in the anatomical study of Anth urium floral structure and embryo development including presence of mu cilage, hardened carpel walls, and hardened seed coat in the developin g fruit and seed, Fixation in 6% glutaraldehyde and 1% cetylpyridinium chloride in 0.05 M sodium cacodylate, pH 6.8, effectively fixed or re moved mucilage from the locules of Anthurium andraeanum Hort, in spadi ces, This treatment enhanced infiltration of the embedding medium thro ugh the hardened carpel wall into the locule space and decreased the q uantity and size of holes in the embedding block during sectioning. Sp ecimens 16 weeks after pollination could be fixed, infiltrated, and ob served without physical removal of the seed coat, Embryos may be excis ed from the seed at later stages without compromising embryo structure .