Our Equipment

Partec Ploidy Analyser PA-II Instrument for ploidy analysis and genome size estimation equipped with two excitation sources: UV mercury arc lamp and 488 nm argon ion laser. Good choice for routine ploidy screening as well as detection of tiny differences in DNA content after DAPI staining.
Sample histograms:
Flow-cytometric profile of DAPI-stained nuclei isolated from Galeobdolon luteum and G. flavidum demonstrating ca. 4% difference in DNA amounts.	Simultaneous analysis of Triticum aestivum and Vicia faba stained with propidium iodide.

Optical bench layout for HBO lamp and 488 nm laser excitation (DAPI and propidium iodide)

Legend:
KG1	Heat protection filter (filters IR light)
BG 38	Short-pass filter (filters light 700 - 1 100 nm, optimum transmittance 500 nm)
DUG 11 (= DG11 or UG1)	Short-pass filter (filters light 400 - 600 nm, optimum transmittance 340 nm)
TK 420	Dichroic mirror (reflects wavelengths below 420 nm [DAPI excitation light] and transmits above 420 nm [DAPI emission light])
FA 2x3	Optical aperture 2x3 mm
TK 560	Dichroic mirror (reflects wavelengths below 560 nm and transmits above 560 nm)
GG 435	Long-pass filter (filters light below 435 nm)
FM	Simple optical mirror angel-wise 45° (reflection)
RG 590	Long-pass filter (filters light below 590 nm)

Actual optical settings:
	Excitation	Emission
DAPI	UV - 420 nm	435 - 560 nm
Propidium iodide	488 nm (mostly)	above 590 nm

Partec CyFlow

Compact instrument with green (532 nm) solid state laser for propidium iodide excitation.

Well suited for high-resolution genome size research. Very low CVs (around 2%) may routinely be achieved using high-stable laser (we are fully satisfied with the Cobolt Samba type).

Sample histograms:

Genome size estimation in Curcuma using Lycopersicum esculentum (2C=1.96 pg) as internal standard.

Genome size estimation in Hieracium subg. Pilosella using Zea mays (2C=5.43 pg) as internal standard.

Partec Ploidy Analyser PA-II

Partec CyFlow