A New and Permanent Staining Method for Starch Granules Using Fluorescence Microscopy

A fluorescence technique has been developed for observing starch granules in plant tissues. Sections are stained with a mixture of dyes which we have named F.A.S.G.A. from the initials of the Spanish names of its components (fucsina, alcian blue, safranina, glicerina, agua), and viewed by epifluorescence microscopy. The starch granules fluoresce greenish yellow, allowing the degradative state to be observed. Cell structures which do not fluoresce are also differentiated. The stain permits identification of other structures when examined by visible light microscopy and is relatively resistant to fading over time.