A First Ultrastructural and Immuno-Labelling Investigation of Western Red Cedar Leaves
A first morphological analysis of the leaves of Thuja plicata (Western Red Cedar, WRC), a commercially valuable tree species, is presented. The ultrastructural and immuno-labelling analyses were only possible after applying modifications to standard transmission electron microscopy (TEM) preparatory methodology to fully embed cedar leaves. We demonstrate an application of the technique after leaf exposure to the fungi Didymascella thujina (cedar leaf blight, CLB). The leaves resulting defence response was visualized to two plant defence proteins, {beta}-1,3 Glucanase and Chitinase. The TEM methodology modifications presented may generally apply to other plant species resistant to morphological analyses due to their thick leaf cuticles. The technique requires no more equipment than found in any basic Transmission Electron Microscopy Facility.