Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1979

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Dairy Science

Abstract

Late bud alfalfa was sampled prior to cutting and after 17 and 51 days of ensiling. Leaf and stem tissue were separated and immediately placed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde followed by 1% osmium textroxide for fixation. Following acetone dehydration, samples were embedded in Spurr plastic for examination under the light (LM) and transmission electron (TEM) microscopes. Light microscopy was used to differentiate cell types and tissues, e.g. epidermis, chlorenchyma, phloem, xylem, and pith. Iodine staining (LM) showed starch localization in chlorenchyma cells. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed starch localized in chloroplasts of chlorenchyma. Leaf cells averaged nine chloroplasts per cell section and eight starch granules per chloroplast section. Stem eel.ls averaged four chloroplasts per cell section and three starch granules per chloroplast section. After ensiling, only remnants of starch were observed. Lipid was visible as coalesced droplet in ensiled tissue, but was incorporated in the intracellular structures of fresh tissue e.g. membranes. Intracellular material of fresh tissue was localized on the inside periphery of the cell. Vacuoles occupied the central portion. This integrity was lost in the ensiled samples. Light microscopy and TEM showed cell wall breakage in chlorenchyma and pith cells, but cell walls from vascular bundle and epidermal cells remained intact. Some midele lamella disintegration occurred in all cellular regions. Results indicate the LM and TEM could be useful as tools in forage research.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Alfalfa
Alfalfa -- Storage
Ultrastructure (Biology)
Electron microscopy

Description

Includes bibliographical references (pages 78-80)

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

92

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

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Dairy Science Commons

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