Chemical name / source of Silwet L-77

[Fred Lehle, Ph.D.]

To: Arabidopsis Researchers

A recently posted procedure for vacuum infiltration of 
Landsberg erecta (see http://genome-www.stanford.edu/cgi-
bin/biosci_arabidopsis?GetDoc:Vacuum+Infiltration at 1)
recommends adding 0.03% (v/v) Silwet L-77 to the 
vacuum infiltration medium.

Silwet L-77 is a tradename for a liquid silicone-polyether copolymer
manufactured by OSi Specialities, Inc and is a chemical mixture of
polyalkyleneoxide modified heptamethyltrisiloxane (84%) and
allyloxypolyethyleneglycol methyl ether (16%).  OSi Specialities, Inc.
sells Silwet L-77 in minimum order quantities of 8 lb (about 3.8
liters) for several hundred dollars.  Their address is PO Box 180,
Sistersville WV 26175 USA, Tel. 800-523-5862 (Contact: Linda Ayers)

For the convenience of researchers who only need
a few milliliters (10 mL is sufficient for over 30
liters of vacuum infiltration medium), LEHLE SEEDS
has repackaged Silwet L-77 manufactured by OSi Specialities, 
Inc. in a 10 mL quantity under the tradename Vac-In-Stuff.
To receive ordering information for Vac-In-Stuff, contact
LEHLE SEEDS by phone 800-881-3945 or
fax 512-388-3974.  Alternatively, email us directly at
webmaster at arabidopis.com or from our web site at
http://www.arabidopsis.com/.  

Fred Lehle, Ph.D.
LEHLE SEEDS
webmaster at arabidopsis.com