An in Situ Sampling Technique for Electron Microscopy of Streptomyces Spore Chains

Woven stainless steel 200 mesh grids were used to harvest Streptomyces spore chains. Uncoated grids Were implanted, after flaming to redness and air cooling, on the growing colony surface and allowed to remain in situ until the streptomycete colonies were in the early stages of sporulation. On removal, long debris-free sporophores and spore chains would adhere to the grids. After removal, the grids were examined in the transmission electron microscope, without further treatment. This method of in situ grid preparation was found to be very effective for the study of intact sporophores and spore chains, and particularly desirable when the morphology of the spores Changes during their maturation.