What stain is used to stain endospores?
1 Answer
Dec 9, 2016
A differential staining technique using malachite green and safranin .
Explanation:
The Schaeffer-Fulton method for staining endospores uses two stains - malachite green and safranin - with heat as the mordant for the malachite green to enter the endospore.
Endospores are usually resistant to staining so heat is used to force the stain in. Once the malachite green has entered the endospore, water is used to wash the excess stain away which leaves the rest of the cell easily since the cell wall has been weakened by the heat. The resistance of the endospore prevents the malachite green from exiting.
Staining with safranin gives the rest of the cell a different colour so that, under the microscope, the green endospore stands out against the reddish cell.
