Localization of plant lipids for light microscopy using p-phenylenediamine in tissues of Arachis hypogaea L.

p-Phenylenediamine (pPD) can be used en bloc to preserve and differentiate cell lipids in aldehyde-fixed peanut plant tissues treated with osmium tetroxide during dehydration in 70% ethanol. Semithin plastic sections for light microscopy need no further staining and can be mounted in Histoclad after drying on a slide. Brown staining above background differentiates lipid-containing structures. Nonspecific staining can be distinguished in control preparations extracted en bloc with lipid solvents.