Comparative Chromosome Analysis of Three <i>Amaranthus</i> Species

Abstract

Comparative chromosome analysis by conventional staining with orcein and differential staining with CMA and DAPI was carried out in three Amaranthus species viz. A. viridis, A. tricolor, and A. lividus. Although, the three species were found to possess 2n=34 chromosomes, differed in respect of total length of chromosome complement. Each Amaranthus species showed a characteristic fluorescent banding pattern based on distribution and amount of CMA-and DAPI-bands. In the three species, out of 22 CMA-banded and 27 DAPIbanded chromosomes, seven and eight were entirely fluoresced with CMA and DAPI, respectively. The compiled data gathered from comparative chromosome analysis on orcein, CMA-and DAPI-banding will be useful for cytogenetical characterization of Amaranthus species.