I will be doing a project where I measure chlorophyll with a handheld meter and via extraction with DMSO. My plants are in a greenhouse at a separate location from my lab. How should I transport/store my leaf samples while I am traveling to minimize chlorophyll loss? Also, should I transport the full leaf or just the sample I will be using for extraction?
Dear James
You can put the samples in plastic bags and transport them in a portable refrigerator or if you have a charged electric balance you can weigh the samples and soaking them in dark bottles contain a specific quantity of the extraction solution and then continue the experiment in the lab
I am unsure how to answer your question. Does your question refer to how to transport those leaves as there are (from the greenhouse, with aminimum cleaniness) or do you mean how to transport them, free of chemicals, chopped.. (which will require antibiotics, cool areas, dark areas, maybe quick as they shrink, keep them greeen, with the stem or at least a chunk of it). Maybe trat them with oils, buffers and with tinfoils and in alcohol in bottles. It depends on the sample, the distance, the use... (it must be quick), but I am not the expert.
Dear James,
I got your point, you have collected your leaves and put it in plastic bags. Try to bring it to the lab as soon as possible in order to avoid transpiration and shrinkage. Also, don't expose it to the sunlight. If possible, I think you can put it in the freshwater too.
Kind regards,
Asif
Just use cool storage if you can travel on the same day. Take the whole leaves and obtain samples at the lab. Chemical methods to stabilise chlorophyll are only necessary for long term storage of leaves or chlorophyll :)
Andrew Paul McKenzie Pegman Thank you so much! When you say cool storage, do I need to put the leaves in water, platic bags, etc?
James Nagaoka
Plants/plant materials can easily be transported from collection place to laboratory with the help of liquid carbon dioxide (available in packets). Keep your plants/ leaves in Thermocol Box along with liquid CO2. After use, store the packets in the freezer and it can be used again.
Chlorophyll content is measured with an instrument called Chlorophyll Content Meter from Hansatech Instruments and then you can sellect your appropriate leaves from the middle and pack in envelope to transport to Lab and you proceed your analysis in the lab.
Maintaining in cold conditions and avoiding sunlight may be the best method
Soak the leaves in the extract solution and keep them in cold conditions
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