Evaluation of distilled water as a mountant in the slide preparation for phytolith identification.

Microscopy is a critical component in phytolith research. To identify and count distinct morphotypes, phytoliths extracted from sediments are mounted on microscopy slides and observed under a microscope. The mounting material used to adhere the samples to the slides affects visibility and image quality. Mountants are chosen depending on whether a temporary or permanent slide is required. Benzyl benzoate, microscopy immersion oil, glycerol and distilled water are a few temporary mountants used for phytolith analysis. In the present study, we evaluate the efficiency of distilled water as a temporary mountant with regard to viewing efficiency, image clarity and ability of rotation of phytoliths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]