Best hand microtome for orchid roots
 

Hi everyone,

I'm doing my PhD in Germany on the function of the velamen in orchid roots. In a few months I will be heading to Panama for my fieldwork component and am looking to buy a hand microtome for the preparation of root cross-sections while over there. This is pretty easy to do free-hand if the roots are thick (like those in Phaleanopsis) but quite challenging in thin roots.

Does anyone here have any general experience using hand microtomes for preparing cross-sections? I have found that there are two types available: a box type and a circular type. I haven't been able to find any concrete statements suggesting that one is better than the other so anyone with prior experience or input would be greatly appreciated!:)

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Hi nschicke

Most of the members here are hobbyists, I am not sure there is much general interest in microtomes. The only one I have seen in use was in an embryology laboratory, for sectioning amphibian embryos mounted in wax. The microtome was a bench model, hardly handheld.

I assume you are in a plant science or botany program at your university, don't they have this equipment?

Why do it in the field? I assume you will have to take samples back to Germany anyway, so you already have to deal with CITES paperwork. So I would just preserve the material while in the field, then do the infiltration and sectioning on a normal microtome.

Speaking from field experience, do as much stuff you can only do in the field on location, do all the rest at home, particularly the tedious stuff.

Also, I assume basic velamen function is known. So getting new insights based on hand sections is unlikely. Taxonomic sampling is most likely not critical either, so why not use material available in German botanical gardens? If you need absolute fresh material (say for insitu hybridization, or immune-gold staining), then you don't want to waste that costly material on a second rate hand-microtome.

Talk to your advisor! or fellow grad students.

Most of the members here are hobbyists

I don't have experience with a hand held microtome. I have only worked with a cryotome. There are some sites like histonet where researchers discuss different techniques. It sounds interesting, and I hope you find what you need.