The rapid-tome, a 3D-printed microtome, and an updated hand-sectioning method for high-quality plant sectioning

Table 1 Approaches and tools to prepare plants for imaging in cross section

Method	Section quality	Accuracy ^a	Sample preparation	Required materials	Learning curve	Benchtop required	Portable	Cost
Hand sectioning
Chopping on bench	Poor,	Poor	None	Razor blades	Low	Yes	No	$
Method described herein	Medium,	High	None	Razor blades, Parafilm	Medium—high	No	Semi	$
Microtomes
Hand microtomes	High,	High	Cut to fit clamps	Razor blades	Medium	Depends on model	Semi	$$
Benchtop microtomes	High,	High	Days to weeks for dehydration and embedding	Embedding materials and equipment, May require electricity	Medium—high	Yes	No	$$$
Vibratome	High,	Medium	Hours to days for embedding	Embedding materials and equipment, Electrical outlet	Medium—high	Yes	No	$$$
Rapid-Tome	High,	High	None	3D-printer and filament, Items in Table 2	Low	No	Field capable	$
Laser Ablation Tomography ^c	High,^b	High^b	None	Laser, Microscope, Camera	High	Yes	No	$$$$

^aAccuracy is defined as the ability to target and produce sections of a specific region of interest
^bMaterial is blasted away by the laser and exposed surface imaged to generate digital sections as the sample is destroyed
^cSchneider et al. [6]

ISSN: 1746-4811