Identifying mitosis in Plants

• Meristems


  Specific regions in plants where growth occurs
• Root tip meristem


  • Can be used to study mitosis
  • Found just behind the protective root cap
  • Contains a zone of cell division with cells undergoing mitosis
• Preparing temporary slides of root tips

  1. Remove root tips

  2. Place in stain (eg. warm, acidified acetic orcein)

  3. Gently squash on glass slide

  4. Cells undergoing mitosis can be seen and drawn

  5. Annotations can be added to show mitosis stages
• Plants used


  • Garlic or onion (Allium cepa)
• Pre-prepared slides of root tips can be studied or temporary slides can be prepared using the squash technique
• Micrographs show cells undergoing prophase (P), metaphase (M), anaphase (A)