The constitutive heterochromatin in chromosomes of Fritillaria Sp., as revealed by Giemsa banding

Abstract

The incidence of C-bands (constitutive heterochromatin), as determined by differential Giemsa staining, was studied in the chromosomes of 56 species, varietal forms and subgenera of Fritillaria and 30 of them are illustrated. With the exception of the subgenera Korolkowi, a supposed link between lilies and fritillaries, and chromsome complements of all plants contained bands. There were wide differences in the size and number of these bands among species both within and between groups. In those with the largest and most abundant bands, there was a pronounced tendency for centromeric localization, both in Old and New World species. The Giemsa positive centromeres were masked when this occurred. Heteromorphy in respect of banding occurred in most species. The relation of repetitive DNA sequences with heterochromatin is discussed, as is also the problem of evolution in Fritillaria.