The Giemsa C-banded Karyotype of Crithopsis Delileana (Poaceae; Triticeae)

Abstract

Three populations of Crithopsis delileunu had similar karyotypes. They included 14 large chromosomes; five pairs of metacentrics, one pair of submetacentrics, and one pair of metacentric SAT-chromosomes with rather small satellites. The karyotypes of two populations were investigated in detail through application of Giemsa C-banding, Giemsa N-banding and AgN0,-staining to meta- and interphases. The C-banding patterns included a few small to very small, mainly centromeric or telomeric bands. The chromosomes of the two populations were differentiated by banding pattern polymorphism. Banding patterns identified homologous and discriminated among non-homologous chromosomes within the same population. The scarcity of diagnostic bands prevented identification of homologous chromosomes between populations beyond the level obtained from morphology, i.e., of submetdcentrics and SAT chromosomes. N-banding produced no or few weak bands. Silver nitrate staining produced two NORs and two nucleoli corresponding to the number of SAT-chromosomes. The data give some support to a hypothesis of a closer relationship between the genera Critlzopsis and Tueniutherum, than between either of these and the genera Psuthyrostuchys and Hordeum.