Chromosome banding patterns in cultivated and wild barleys (Hordeum SPP).

Abstract

An investigation of seven species of wild barley and ten different forms of the cultivated species (H. vulgare) has revealed that all the species and cultivars have mostly procentric constitutive heterochromatin. Relatively smaller heterochromatic segments are found in intercalary and distal positions. Larger bands of varying sizes and reacting somewhat differently from the rest of the heterochromatin are generally found in association with the nucleolar constrictions. The amount and location of heterochromatin vary very little between the various species and cultivars. Extended studies are necessary to recognize the specificity of the banding patterns and their possible use in cytogenetic studies and in species recognition. The only criteria of discrimination between the species remain the number and morphology of the nucleolar chromosomes and the presence or absence of certain characteristic chromosomes. However, C-banding techniques allow the recognition of all different chromosome types, according to their heterochromatic patterns, within each species.