Giemsa C-banding of barley chromosomes

Abstract

Twenty barley lines studied had a common basic chromosome banding pattern. Most bands ranged from medium to very small in size. The most conspicuous banding occurred at or near the centromeres, in the proximal, intercalary parts of most chromosome arms, and beside the secondary constrictions of the satellited chromosomes. Small to very small bands were always present at the chromosome ends. In addition, some lines had one distinct, intercalary band in the distal half of the long arm of one or more non-satellited chromosomes. Fifteen locations out of thirty-three with distinct bands showed band heteromorphy; the heteromorphy was the result of variation in band size or of the presence or apparent absence of a particular band. The band heteromorphy resulted in two different banding pattern variants of chromosomes 1 and 4, three of chromosomes 2 and 5, four of chromosome 3, six of chromosome 6, and eight of chromosome 7. Seventeen differently banded karyotypes were found. Some banding pattern polymorphisms can be used in cytological and cytogenetic studies.