A SOAP TECHNIQUE FOR CELL-SEPARATION TO STUDY THE SEED COAT OF SESBANIA-PUNICEA

A technique is described for separating plant cells used for morpholog ical studies. The plant material is placed in a concentrated solution of olive oil castile soap for 1-2 days or more. The material is then t horoughly washed and placed between two glass slides. The upper glass slide is lifted from the lower one, then gently pressed down several t imes. Through this procedure Malpighian cells of the seed coat of Sesb ania punicea, mesophyll cells of Euphorbia peplus and of Trifolium pra tense and cortical cells of the aerial roots of Monstera deliciosa hav e been separated. Various shapes of the Malpighian cells of the Sesban ia punicea seed coat can be observed along with intermediates.