Comparison of the results of three sample preparation methods of scanning electron microscope (SEM) to study the morphological characteristics of astigmatic mites

The use of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images to study the morphology and taxonomy of mites along with the traditional method of optical microscope slides increases the validity of the information. Various studies have been performed on SEM sample preparation methods in different groups of mites. In this study, three experimental methods were compared and their results were analyzed for astigmatic mites. Samples were stored in ۷۰% ethanol for ۱۰ days for fixation and after washing in distilled water, these three methods were performed as follows, first method: samples were stored in ۷۰% ethanol and glycerol solution for one hour, transferred on the stub, and left at room temperature overnight, Second method: samples were stored in ۵۰% ethanol and glycerol solution for ۳۰ minutes, stored in ۷۰% ethanol and glycerol solution for ۳۰ minutes, transferred on the stub, and left at room temperature overnight, third method: samples were stored in ۷۰% ethanol and glycerol solution at room temperature overnight, transferred on filter paper, and transferred on the stub. Imaging was performed after the coating of the samples with gold. The first method images were better than the other two methods in terms of the shrinkage of different surfaces of the sample and the detection of taxonomic features. In this study, unlike many other methods of sample preparation, toxic compounds were not used. Due to the morphological diversity and sensitivity of mite specimens to the preparation methods, it is necessary to improve these methods for other groups of mites and even at the species level.

کلیدواژه ها:

Taxonomy ، mite ، ethanol