Low-cost and efficient confocal imaging method for arabidopsis flower

For an extensive period of time apical meristem (SAM) has been considered as a mysterious organ, due to its small, hidden and dynamic structure. Confocal imaging, combined with fluorescent reporters, enables researchers to unveil the mechanisms underlying cellular activities, such as gene expression, cell division, growth patterns and cell-cell communications. Recently, a series of protocols were developed for confocal imaging of inflorescence meristem (IM) and floral meristem (FM). However, the requirement of high configuration, such as the need of a water-dipping lens without coverslip and the specialized turrets associated with fixed-stage microscopes, impedes the wide adoption of these methods. We exploited an improved object slide and matching method aiming to decrease the configuration requirement. Following this protocol, various dry microscope lenses can be selected with flexibility for building 3D images of IM and FM. •Confocal imaging is a powerful technique for understanding meristem development processes.•High configuration requirement impedes the popularity of classical confocal imaging methods.•A simple method can decrease the configuration requirement without reducing the image quality.•Performance of the method breaks the shackles of water-dipping lens to acquire larger visual field.