Investigate fungal infection pathways in plants with Cryo-SEM on Tescan CLARA

Conventional electron microscopy requires dehydration and chemical fixation, often causing artifacts, shrinkage, or collapse of delicate biological structures. These distortions make it difficult to study natural morphology, especially in hydrated plant tissues where fine surface details are essential to understanding infection processes.

Cryo-SEM imaging eliminates these limitations by preserving samples in a frozen-hydrated state, maintaining their native structure and spatial integrity. This makes it a powerful tool for examining plant–pathogen interactions in their true physiological context.

Tescan CLARA, equipped with an integrated cryo stage, provides the stability and resolution needed to image infected plant tissues without structural distortion. Researchers can observe early fungal colonization and trace infection pathways with exceptional clarity and depth of focus, benefiting from key Cryo-SEM advantages such as:

• High-resolution Cryo-SEM for studying plant–pathogen interactions

• Excellent contrast and depth of focus reveal complex tissue architecture

• Stable cryo conditions preserve native morphology

• Ideal for agricultural and botanical research

Investigate the progression of fungal infections in plant tissues with the Tescan CLARA, capturing early colonization and preserving native structural integrity.

How Plant–Pathogen Interactions Were Studied Using Tescan CLARA

Infected ash tree samples showing symptoms of fungal infection were collected and cryo-fixed using plunge freezing in liquid nitrogen. This rapid freezing process preserved tissue natural hydration and internal structure, preventing collapse or alteration for imaging.

Frozen samples were then freeze-fractured to expose xylem, cortex, and other internal regions, particularly the wood vessels that are inter-grown with the fungal hyphae and transferred to the Tescan CLARA.

Imaging was carried out with the Tescan CLARA UHR-SEM under cryogenic conditions using a low accelerating voltage (2 keV), which is ideal for preservation of delicate fungal hyphae and plant tissues.

Stable cryogenic conditions and high-resolution optics enabled detailed visualization of infection pathways while maintaining the native morphology and structural integrity of the sample.

Cryo Imaging of Fungal Infections in Intact Plant Tissues

Cryo-SEM imaging with Tescan CLARA enabled ultra-high resolution observation of infected ash tissues in their frozen-hydrated state, preserving both plant and fungal morphology. Colonization pathways within xylem vessels and cortical tissues were revealed without the collapse or deformation caused by traditional SEM sample preparation.

Fungal hyphae and areas of plant tissue degradation were captured with enhanced depth of focus and high contrast under low beam energy conditions.

Freeze-fractured surfaces exposed intact internal features, allowing researchers to track infection spread across layers of plant tissue. The observations provided a more accurate understanding of how fungal infection progresses within the host.

This workflow delivered consistent, detailed insight into plant–pathogen interactions, supporting the development of more accurate models of disease progression and treatment.