Introduction:
Plant cells are the basic unit of life in organisms of the kingdom Plantae. They are eukaryotic
cells, which have a true nucleus along with specialized structures called organelles that carry out
different functions. Some of these organelles may be viewed using compound microscopes
however, other organelles might need an electron microscope in order to be seen (Despi
V.A.,Billones R.L., & Juesna A.,2019).In this laboratory activity, we will use a simple
microscope.
The plant cell also comprises many different parts. Each part of the cell has a specialized
function. These structures are called organelles. Specialized structures in plant cells include the
cell wall which makes the plant appear rigid, the cytoplasm where other organelles are embedded
and the nucleus where all the genetic information of the plant is located. (Despi V.A.,Billones
R.L., & Juesna A.M.,2019)
One of the most basic and common types of plant cells is the epidermal cell, which forms the
outer layer of the plant organs such as leaves, stems, roots and flowers (Wikipedia,n.d.).Onion
has several layers of fleshy scales that are modified leaves that store food and water for the plant.
Each scale is covered by a thin and transparent layer of epidermis that can be easily peeled off
and used for microscopic observation (Journal of Experimental Botany,Volume 60,p.4175-
4187,2009)
To enhance the visibility of the cell components, a dye such as iodine can be added to the thin
layer of the onion cell placing the cover slip.One of the main features that can be seen is the
nucleus, which is a spherical structure that contains the genetic material (DNA) of the cell.
Observing onion cells under a simple microscope can help us learn about the structure of plant
cells in general and epidermal cells in particular.This lab report will describe how to prepare a
temporary slide of an onion peel, how to use a simple microscope to observe it, how to identify
its cell structures, especially the nucleus, and how to record and analyze the observations.
Objective: To observe the structure of onion cell and to identify the nucleus of it.
Method:
1.Cut a small piece of onion and peel off a thin layer of epidermis.
2. Place the epidermis on a clean glass slide
3. Add a drop of iodine solution to the thin layer of epidermis
4. Gently place a cover slip over the epidermis
5. Adjust the distance between the slide and the lens of the simple microscope until a clear image
is obtained.
6. Move the slide in different directions to observe different parts of the onion epidermis and
identify its cell structures, especially the nucleus.
Discussion:
Results:
Conclusion:
References:
Despi V.A.,Billones R., & Juesna A.,(2019). Plant Structure Lab
Report.https://www.scribd.com/document/420711474/Plant-Structure-Lab-Report-3-pdf
Wikipedia,(n.d).https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidermis_(botany)
Susslov, D., Verbelen, J., & Vissenberg,K. (2009).Onion epidermis as a new model to study the
control of growth anisotropy in higher plants.Oxford Academic
Publishinghttps://academic.oup.com/jxb/article/60/14/4175/656306
