An improved method for staining chromosomes of marine algae

Abstract

AbstractAn improved staining method using carbol fuchsin was successfully adopted for chromosomes of marine algae, includingPorphyra,Undaria pinnatifidaandSaccharina japonica. The haploid numbers ofP. haitanensisandP. yezoensis(observed clearly in vegetative, spermatangial and conchosporangial cells) were five and three, respectively. The diploid numbers ofP. haitanensisandP. yezoensis(in immature conchosporangial cells) were ten and six, respectively. Pit connections between cells of conchosporangia and cell mashes were clearly differentiated. Chromosomes in conchocelis cells in prophase were clearly stained with the improved carbol fuchsin method. The chromosome number of gametophytes ofS. japonicawas 31, and that ofU. pinnatifidawas 30. Hydrolysis with 1 M HCl at 60°C for 7–8 min to produce a very transparent cytoplasm was necessary for staining chromosomes in conchosporangial branches ofPorphyra. Iron alum acetocarmine, aceto-iron-hematoxylin-chloral hydrate and carbol fuchsin were used to stain the chromosomes of the vegetative cells, spermatangial cells and conchosporangial cells ofPorphyraand the gametophytes ofU. pinnatifidaandS. japonica. Among the three methods, the carbol fuchsin method was simple and rapid, yielding deep staining of chromosomes and good contrast between the nucleus and cytoplasm.