Elaine
The wax will be parafin wax probably. You won't be able to stain the wax
in-situ but instead will have to add the stain to the wax before it is
applied to the wood.
Try mixing some fluorescein powder with molten wax, or maybe acriflavin or
safranine. Anything fluorescent that doesn't crystalise in the wax will do.
There may be some published methods. Try searching the wood product
journals such as Wood & Fibre Science. I know one of my colleagues has a
method but it may be confidential - otherwise he will respond to you
directly.

Dr Lloyd Donaldson - Microscopist
Cellwall Biotechnology Centre
SCION - Next generation biomaterials
Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park, 49 Sala Street
Private Bag 3020, ROTORUA, New Zealand
DDI 64 7 343 5581
Fax 64 7 343 5507
email [log in to unmask]
http://www.scionresearch.com/fluorescence+microscopy+of+wood.aspx



                                                                           
             Rosemary White                                                
             <Rosemary.White@C                                             
             SIRO.AU>                                                   To 
             Sent by: Confocal         [log in to unmask]       
             Microscopy List                                            cc 
             <CONFOCAL@LISTSER                                             
             V.BUFFALO.EDU>                                        Subject 
                                       Re: wax measurements in wood        
                                                                           
             10/05/06 11:37                                                
                                                                           
                                                                           
             Please respond to                                             
                 Confocal                                                  
              Microscopy List                                              
             <CONFOCAL@LISTSER                                             
              V.BUFFALO.EDU>                                               
                                                                           
                                                                           




Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
Dear Elaine,

It really depends on what you mean by “wax”.  Some cuticular waxes have
quite strong autofluorescence under UV illumination, others have none
(their purpose is to absorb UV), something like suberin can be stained with
a number of dyes, such as berberine sulfate, and fluoresces yellowish at
high pH without staining, etc.  Some fatty substances in plants will take
up stains such as nile red that are normally used for oil bodies.  Can you
be a bit more specific?

Dr. Rosemary White              [log in to unmask]
CSIRO Plant Industry            ph.     02-6246 5475
GPO Box 1600                        mob.  0402 835 973
Canberra, ACT 2601             fax.     02-6246 5334
Australia


From: Elaine Kunze <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Confocal Microscopy List <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 09:54:09 -0400
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: wax measurements in wood

Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
A student recently did some fluorescence work detecting resin in wood.
They are now trying to find a dye that is miscible for wax imaging wax
distribution on wood.  An actaclear dye was suggested to him which
fluoresces in this region.  Any other suggestions for wax.


Elaine Kunze
Flow Cytometry and Imaging
Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences
319 Life Sciences Building
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-2762