Micrographs were taken by Charles Mims, Glenn Freshour, Sue Goldstein and Beth Richardson

Supervisor – Zheng-Hua Ye
Lab Coordinator – Beth Richardson

ABOUT THE LAB
New users of the facility are asked to meet with Dr Ye and Beth Richardson to discuss their research needs*. Emphasis in the lab is on ultrastructural studies of plants and fungi.

Cryo-techniques and immunocytochemistry are used on a regular basis to study the host-pathogen interactions in fungal diseases of plants, plant cell wall characterization, fungal growth and development, and meiosis in maize.

THE SCOPE
The Plant Biology EM Lab maintains a Zeiss EM 902A Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) available for faculty and student research.

The lab is also equipped with 3 ultramicrotomes, a cryostat, and other support equipment and supplies.

SAMPLE PREPARATION
Since 1994, the EM lab has specialized in sample preparation using the Balzers High Pressure Freezing Machine HPM 010. High pressure freezing followed by freeze substitution (fs) has become the gold standard for cryo-preservation of specimens. Plunge freezing/fs and standard chemical fixation methods are also available for sample preparation.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS:

Mims, CW, and Richardson, EA. 2008. Light and electron microscopy of the spermogonial stage of Gymnoconia peckiana, one of the causes of orange rust of Rubus. Canadian J Botany 86: 1-6.

Mims, CW. et al. 2007. Canadian J Botany 85: 926-934.

Lee, C. et al. 2007. The PARVUS gene is expressed in cells undergoing secondary wall thickening and essential for glucuronoxylan biosynthesis. Plant Cell Physiol. 48: 1659-1672.

Zhong, R. et al. 2007. The MYP transcription factor MYB46 is a direct target of SND1 and regulates secondary wall biosynthesis in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 19: 2776-2792.

Zhong, R. et al. 2007. Planta 225: 1603-1611.

Pena, MJ. et al. 2007. Plant Cell 19: 549-563.

RECENT AWARDS
At the 2006 Microscopy & Microanalysis Meeting in Chicago, IL:

>> Diatome Poster Award. Biological Sciences - Third Place

WANT TO USE THE FACILITY OR CONTACT US?
For more information please contact Beth Richardson.

*Plant Biology faculty, students and technicians should consult the department handbook for more information on the laboratory and the equipment available for use.