Figure 1

Laser microdissection of protoperithecia. Mycelia were grown on special membrane slides and fixed in ethanol. After drying of the slides, samples were covered with a glass slide (A) and visualized on an inverted microscope (B). Selected regions containing protoperithecia were cut with a UV laser through the microscope lens. To collect the cut out regions, the cap of a special collection tube was lowered onto the sample (C) where the membrane (with the sample attached) stuck to the cap and could be lifted off when the cap was raised again. Effective collection was indicated by corresponding holes in the samples (D).