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Observing Stomata in a Leaf Peel

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Aim

To prepare a temporary mount of a leaf peel to show stomata.

Materials Required

Fresh leaf (e.g., Rheo/Tradescantia)
Glass slide
Coverslip
Safranin stain
Dropper
Needle
Brush
Blotting paper
Microscope
Water

Procedure

  1. Take a fresh leaf.
  2. Fold and tear it to get a thin epidermis peel from the lower surface.
  3. Place the peel in water.
  4. Transfer it to a clean glass slide.
  5. Add 1-2 drops of safranin stain.
  6. Wait 1 minute for staining.
  7. Place a coverslip gently, avoiding air bubbles.
  8. Remove excess stain with blotting paper.
  9. Observe under a microscope at low (100x) then high (400x) power.

Precautions

  • Handle the microscope carefully.
  • Remove air bubbles while placing the coverslip.
  • Use a thin, transparent peel.
  • Do not use too much stain.
  • Clean the slide and coverslip before use.
Step 1: Peel Epidermis
Tooltip

Observations

S.No. Magnification No. of Stomata Visible Shape of Guard Cells Observation

📹 Video Tutorial

💡 Watch this video to see how the experiment is performed in a real lab.

1. Stomata are mainly found on:

2. Guard cells are shaped like:

3. The function of stomata is:

4. Safranin stain is used to:

5. Stomata open when guard cells become:

Lab Report

Aim: To prepare a temporary mount of a leaf peel to show stomata.

Result: The temporary mount of leaf epidermis peel showed several stomata with kidney-shaped guard cells and stomatal pores, visible under the microscope at 100x and 400x magnification.

Recorded Observations