Technovit Sectioning for High-Resolution Visualization of Tissue Anatomy and Gene Expression in the Floral Abscission Zone of Arabidopsis

Abstract

Plant organ abscission is essential for stress adaptation, reproductive success, and crop productivity. Recent studies using bulk and single-cell transcriptomics have identified previously unrecognized cell types and regulatory networks that govern the abscission process. To validate these transcriptomic findings in vivo, we developed an optimized workflow for processing the floral abscission zone (AZ) of Arabidopsis. This workflow combines promoter-GUS staining with Technovit 7100 embedding and sectioning. This method enables high-resolution spatial visualization of both tissue and cellular anatomy, as well as the reporter activity within the AZ. Here, we present a clear, step-by-step protocol to facilitate the easy adoption of this method by other laboratories.