Ambient Variable Pressure Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy for Trichome Profiling of Plectranthus tomentosa by Secondary Electron Imaging

Glandular and nonglandular trichomes on the leaf surface of Plectranthus tomentosa were investigated by variable pressure field emission scanning electron microscopy (VP-FESEM). The segments of the plant's leaves were directly mounted without any specimen preparation, and examined at ambient temperature using a variable pressure secondary electron (SE) detector under ca. 15 Pa. Foliar trichomes maintained their shapes and structures without severe surface collapse or charging. The adaxial leaf surface was abundantly covered with different types of trichome. Nonglandular trichomes consisted of a basal cell and a long (up to ca. $300{\mu}m$ ) stalk. Meanwhile, capitate glandular trichomes had a secretory head and a short or long stalk. Peltate glandular trichomes with globose secretory heads were observed in close contact with the leaf epidermis. Spherical projections on the secretory head showed the secretion process of glandular trichomes. In addition to the trichomes, oval stomata were distributed on the abaxial leaf surface. These results suggest that ambient VP-FESEM can be used to classify the dehydration-sensitive foliar trichomes of succulent plants by SE imaging. At the FESEM resolution, this approach facilitates the rapid and detailed morphological analysis of a variety of trichomes in diverse plant taxa with reduced labor and preparation.