A Versatile Giemsa Protocol for Permanent Nuclear Staining of Fungi

Abstract

A variety of cytological stains and staining procedures including Giemsa-HCL, acetic-or-cein, propionic-carmine, iron haema-toxylin, safranin O, aniline blue or trypan blue, toluidine blue and basic fuchsin or Feulgen stain have been used to investigate the nuclear condition of reproductive and somatic structures of fungi. Fluorescent stains such as acriflavin acridine orange, 2,5-bis(4-aminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (BAO), and especially 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) have been employed more recently to differentiate and improve the resolution of nuclear DNA from other cellular constituents and to quantitate genomic DNA through microspectrophotometric analyses. Most of these staining procedures were developed to produce temporary slides. Destaining solutions often are used as mounting media for temporary slides and usually cause stained nuclei to fade or become less differentiated within several hours to several days after preparation. Consequently, slide preparations from such procedures must be viewed and photographed during the short period when they are optimally differentiated. Since many nuclear-staining procedures are useful when only temporary slides are required, there is a need for a protocol that provides stable nuclear staining on permanent slides.

Citation

Wilson, A. Dan. 1992. A Versatile Giemsa Protocol for Permanent Nuclear Staining of Fungi. Mycologia, 84(4), 1992, pp. 585-588