The Use of Fluorescein Diacetate and Phenosafranine for Determining Viability of Cultured Plant Cells

Various stains were tested with suspension cell cultures of Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco), Oryza sativa (rice), Glycine max (soybean), Daucus carota (carrot) and Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato). A drop of the culture medium containing each dye was mixed with a drop of cells on a microscope slide and viewed after 5 min. The most suitable dyes tested were fluorescein diacetate for viable cells and phenosafranine for dead cells. These dyes stained specifically whether the cells were from cultures of different ages, of different species or if the cells had been treated in various, often toxic, ways. The viability of the cells was confirmed by observing cyclosis and plasmolysis, and whether the cells could grow further when cultured.