Autofluorescence of plant elements

[microplan]

Hello
From time to time, I look for color impressions by observing plant parts that I illuminate with UV light.
I do not use any fluorochromes.
I settle for autofluorescence.
Today I am presenting a crushed stalk of ornamental grass from my garden.
We watch stereo pairs by crossing our eyes.

Regards
Maciej

[macnmotion]

Very beautiful. I should search for more autofluorescent subjects.

[Sure Squintsalot]

What kind of UV source are you using?

These images are really pretty cool.

[microplan]

Hello
macnmotion and Sure Squintsalot - thank you very much for your nice comments.
I highly recommend searching for and observing autofluorescence phenomena, just because of the amazing colors you can admire.
A long time ago I used a CZJ Fluoval microscope to observe fluorescence.
However, it was quite troublesome due to all the equipment that had to be involved in the work.
Now I use special flashlights as a UV source.
I don't use an excitation filter.
I illuminate the specimen directly on the microscope stage.
Of course, after reflection from the sample, UV radiation must still pass through the barrier filter and land on the camera matrix.
I never view the UV-illuminated sample through the microscope eyepiece, only on the camera screen.
Besides, I wear anti-UV glasses.
So far my eyesight has not deteriorated.

Regards
Maciej

[Automizer]

Beautiful

[macnmotion]

I highly recommend searching for and observing autofluorescence phenomena, just because of the amazing colors you can admire.

Regards
Maciej

Last September I was given a complete Xenon fluorescence system for my Nikon scope by a friend who runs a university lab and had decommissioned the equipment. It's a great kit, but so far I've had limited success staining and imaging live pond samples. Perhaps some plant life would be a bit easier for me to get results. You make a great point about eye protection, I have UV protection goggles for me and anyone who happens to be in the room with me, and like you I only view on a monitor.

[microplan]

Automizer - thank you for your nice comment.

macnmotion - a complete fluorescence system is probably the dream of every advanced microscope user.
I used the complete Zeiss system, but it was quite troublesome for home use.
A large power supply, a fairly large UV illuminator with a mercury lamp installed (the life of such a lamp is quite short).
The disadvantages of such a set at home are:
- quite short life of the mercury lamp
- quite high energy demand
- during a longer session on the illuminator, you can boil water in the kettle, it was so hot
- quite intense smell of ozone (I think)
- harmful UV radiation
- danger of explosion of a mercury lamp
After blowing up the lamp, I stopped using it.
Now I use safer technology and so far it's OK.
Returning to your system, it seems to me that the xenon lamp has a longer life and remember that a complete fluorescent system should have an additional orange filter in the form of a movable flap placed next to the lenses.
The purpose of such a filter was to additionally protect the operator against UV radiation reflected from the table and scattered.
My opinion is not dictated by any special, specialized knowledge, it is more the result of using the fluorescence kit for some time.
And finally.
It seems to me that you will get much more satisfaction when photographing stationary objects such as plants or dead insects.
In particular, the eyes of some insects appear to glow with their own light when observing fluo.

Regards
Maciej

[macnmotion]

Automizer - thank you for your nice comment.

macnmotion - a complete fluorescence system is probably the dream of every advanced microscope user.

Regards
Maciej

Thanks for the follow up. I don't ha e the orange filter that clips near the eyepieces, however I don't view through the eyepieces anyway and I'm hoping that my UV protection lab goggles are safe enough. The xenon bulb was new in box when I began use. I have just under 4 hours on it, and the power supply track usage time, so I'm being as mindful as I can be about the potential for an explosion. As you said there is quite a power draw. I unplug my other nearby devices when turning the power source on. I'll do some work with plant material and dead insects to learn more about the system, settings and dyes. I'll update here with my results. Thanks again for the tips.