Preparation and Sectioning of Paraffin-Embedded Tissue for Histology and Histochemistry

Cutting thin sections of plant tissues enables observation of internal structures and inner cell layers, and it facilitates various histochemical staining methods. Paraffin embedding gives the tissues a uniform stiffness that is sufficient for sectioning with a microtome. Here, we describe the procedures for preparation of paraffin-embedded tissues and the techniques for sectioning with a microtome. This method is applicable to various types of tissues, including rice shoot apex and immature inflorescence.