# DAPI in plant tissue - nonspecific binding to cell walls and chloroplasts

**URL:** <https://forum.microlist.org/t/dapi-in-plant-tissue-nonspecific-binding-to-cell-walls-and-chloroplasts/3346>\
**Category:** Probes & Prep\
**Created:** [May 19, 2026, 6:25pm UTC](https://forum.microlist.org/t/dapi-in-plant-tissue-nonspecific-binding-to-cell-walls-and-chloroplasts/3346 "2026-05-19T18:25:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![renata\_schnablova](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.microlist.org/renata_schnablova/32/1954_2.png) [@renata\_schnablova](https://forum.microlist.org/u/renata_schnablova)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 6:25pm UTC](https://forum.microlist.org/t/dapi-in-plant-tissue-nonspecific-binding-to-cell-walls-and-chloroplasts/3346/1 "2026-05-19T18:25:28Z")

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Dear all. I am facing difficulties with staining of fixed plant tissue in diverse herbaceous species. In some species (about 10% of the studied species), I see nonspecific staining of cell walls and chloroplasts, without mostly any signal in cell nuclei. I am using fixed (Clark solution (ethanol+acetic acid) plant tissue (leaves,or stems), hand made cross-sections, washing in PBS, DAPI v PBS staining for 15 min and DirectRed for 15min for cell wall staining, confocal microscopy. I know that chloroplasts might be stained a bit because they also contein DNA and lignin has some autofluorescence under UV. But in this case, the samples are not lignified so much to be stained everywhere. I would appreciate any siúggestions for the protocol improvement. Thank you, Ren.