Aligned with your application on any TEM TEM camera systems for Life and Materials SciencesMultiple TEMs and TEM cameras are available to contend with the many diverse and demanding tasks in today's life and materials science. Only when the TEM and camera system are paired correctly you will be able to easily complete your tasks and overcome your challenges.All of our side-mounted and bottom-mounted TEM cameras can be easily attached to virtually any TEM. The camera itself, and also most remote-controlled TEMs and stages, can be operated via iTEM - our TEM imaging platform. With these well aligned TEM image acquisition solutions, your TEM work flow can become the most efficient work flow possible. For further information: info.osis@olympus-sis.com,www.soft-imaging.net CIRCLE NO. 10 OR ONLINE: www.microscopy-analysis.com

MATERIALS AND METHODSPreparation of Plant TissuesStigmas were harvested from both autosterile(D07) and autofertile (K25) lines of Vicia fabain the days leading to anthesis. Samples wererapidly frozen in liquid nitrogen and attachedto the cold stage (kept at -20oC) with carbonsticky pads.Scanning Electron MicroscopyPlant specimens were examined in a Carl ZeissEVO LS 15 SEM with variable pressure capabil-ity at 20 kV and imaged using a variable pres-sure secondary electron (VPSE) detector.In addition, the SEM was equipped with aCoolstage from Deben UK Ltd, Suffolk, and theimages presented in this note were obtainedwith the stigmas cooled to approximately -20°C. In order to reduce charging artifacts, alow pressure of about 30 Pa of air was used.This very low pressure is sufficient to compen-sate for specimen charging and to provide agas phase scintillation signal for the VPSEdetector.The Coolstage, shown in Figure 3, is a Peltierdevice that is able to reduce the temperatureof the specimen. Extended periods of SEMimaging are then possible as hydration of thespecimen is maintained. This approach offersan alternative to the full environments SEM ifdynamic processes involving water are notrequired.BIOGRAPHYTimothy Baldwin has aPhD in botany from theUniversity of Reading.After a post-doctoralposition at the JohnInnes Centre, Norwich,he became a lecturer inthe Botany Department at Universiti SainsMalaysia. In 1999 he returned to the UK andwas appointed a post-doctoral researchassociate in the Department of Biochemistryat the University of Cambridge. Since 2001,Tim has been senior lecturer in plant sci-ences at the University of Wolverhampton.His research interests include the role of theplant cell wall in plant growth and develop-ment, pollination biology, orchid conserva-tion and plants used in traditional Chinesemedicine.ABSTRACTThe cell walls of the stigma and style areimportant zones for cell-cell recognition,nutrition, guidance and protection of thepollen tube along the transmitting tract.The SEM data presented here was a compo-nent of a larger study the main objective ofwhich was to investigate pistil developmentand pollination in the crop species Vicia fabaL. (the faba bean). The data demonstratethat there is a developmentally regulateddifference in the structural integrity of thestigmatic surface in autofertile (K25) andautosterile (D07) lines of the faba bean. Inthe autofertile lines the stigmatic surfaceruptures two days prior to flower opening(anthesis), whereas in the autosterile plantsthe stigma remains intact, until anthesis.The VPSEM technique used in the currentstudy shows this difference to great effectand as such is an invaluable tool for use inplant cell biology.KEYWORDSscanning electron microscopy, variable pres-sure, cryo electron microscopy, plant sci-ences, pollinationAUTHOR DETAILSDr Timothy C. Baldwin, Senior Lecturer -Plant Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1SB, UKTel: +44 (0) 1902 322142Email: t.baldwin@wlv.ac.ukMicroscopy and Analysis25(7):21-22 (EU), 2011VPSEM INPLANTSCIENCESINTRODUCTIONGrain legumes are extremely important inworld agriculture yet information on the struc-ture, composition, and functioning of theirsolid stigma and open style is limited. Globalfood production is underpinned by plantbreeding programmes centred on importantcrops including the faba bean (Vicia fabaL.)(Figure 1), soybean, pea, and the commonbean. Understanding the mechanism of polli-nation in such species enhances the effective-ness of these programmes.The faba bean is particularly suitable forstudy because it produces numerous largeflowers with straight styles that are easy to dis-sect and is partially dependent upon bees forpollination.For the faba bean there are both autofertileand autosterile lines. Autofertile lines do notrequire a pollinating insect but do not havevery large yields. Autosterile lines do need apollinating insect and have relatively high cropyields.The aim for plant scientists is to compareautosterile and autofertile lines so that crossesbetween the two lines can be developed. Theoverall aim is increased food production.In this article the development of the fababean stigmatic papillae was observed in thedays leading up to anthesis (flower opening)using low-temperature variable pressure scan-ning electron microscopy (VPSEM).Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Micro-scopy of Vicia fabaStigmatic PapillaeWen Chen, Fred Stoddard and Timothy C. BaldwinSchool of Applied Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, UK Figure 1: Vicia faba. From Prof. Dr Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland,Österreich und der Schweiz 1885, Gera, Germany. www.biolib.deMICROSCOPY AND ANALYSISNOVEMBER 201121Figure 2: Photomicrograph showing the general anatomy of the faba beanpistil. Key: (b) -stigma, (c) -apical region, (d) -middle region, (e) -basal region, ov -ovary, sh -stylar hairs, stg -stigma, sty -style.Scale bar = 500 ?m.