Boana
comprises a diverse genus of Neotropical treefrogs,
currently rearranged into seven taxonomic species groups. Although cytogenetic
studies have demonstrated diversity in its representatives, the chromosomal
mapping of repetitive DNA sequences is still scarce. In this study,
Boana albopunctata
,
Boana faber
, and
Boana prasina
were subjected to
in situ
localization of different repetitive DNA units to evaluate trends of chromosomal
evolution in this genus.
Boana faber
and
B.
prasina
had 2n=24 chromosomes, while
B.
albopunctata
has 2n=22 and an intra-individual variation related to
the presence/absence of one B chromosome. The location of 45S rDNA sites was
different in the analyzed karyotypes, corroborating with what was found in the
distinct phylogenetic groups of
Boana
. We presented the first
description of 5S rDNA in a
Boana
species, which showed
markings resulting from transposition/translocation mechanisms.
In
situ
localization of microsatellite loci proved to be a helpful
marker for karyotype comparison in
Boana
, commonly with cis
accumulation in the heterochromatin. On the other hand, genomic dispersion of
microsatellites may be associated with hitchhiking effects during the spreading
of transposable elements. The obtained results corroborated the independent
diversification of these lineages of species from three distinct phylogenetic
groups of
Boana
.