The constitutive heterochromatin in chromosomes ofFritillariasp., 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.

Karyosystematic study ofFritillaria messanensiss.l.(Liliaceae)

“…In some cases supernumerary B-chromosomes of variable number and morphology are observed, and these are rather common in plants from areas where the distribution ranges of two taxa overlap (La Cour 1978b, Kamari 1984, 1991, Zaharof 1987, 1989. Exceptionally, triploid karyotypes with 2n = 3x = 36 (Fedorov 1969, La Cour 1978a, Moore 1982, Zaharof 1987 or with 2n = 3x = 27 (La Cour 1978a-b, Cesca 1986, Kamari 1991 chromosomes are found. For Fritillaria messanensis important karyological information has been published using both Feulgen and C-banding preparations.…”

“…For Fritillaria messanensis important karyological information has been published using both Feulgen and C-banding preparations. The first reports were given by La Cour (1951Cour ( , 1978a in material of F. messanensis (sub gracilis) from the Balkan coast and N Africa. With respect to the N African populations, the data of La Cour (1951Cour ( , 1978a and the triploid karyotypes (2n = 3x = 36) of Humphries & al.…”

“…The first reports were given by La Cour (1951Cour ( , 1978a in material of F. messanensis (sub gracilis) from the Balkan coast and N Africa. With respect to the N African populations, the data of La Cour (1951Cour ( , 1978a and the triploid karyotypes (2n = 3x = 36) of Humphries & al. (1978) from the Antiatlas Mts probably refer to the related F. oranensis Pomel, which replaces F. messanensis in that area.…”

“…F. montana and F. ruthenica Wikström, have 2n = 18 chromosomes (Fedorov 1969). This chromosomal reduction is probably the result of successive chromosomal reconstructions and fusion of acrocentric chromosomes into metacentric chromosomes (Darlington 1930, 1936, La Cour 1978a-b, Kamari 1991. The presence, shape and size of satellites on chromosomes vary significantly among members of the genus, and even within the same taxon (Runemark 1970, Bentzer & al.…”

Karyomorphometric analysis of Fritillaria montana group in Greece

“…As a result, that type of differentiations is always emphasized and specific chromosome pairs are studied as markers, in order to spot the differences among the generally stable and similar karyotypes (Kamari 1984b, Zaharof 1989, Kamari and Phitos 2000, 2006). Finally, a few triploid karyotypes have been reported with 2n = 3x = 36 (Fedorov 1969, La Cour 1978a, Moore 1982, Marchant and Macfarlane 1980, Zaharof 1987, Peruzzi et al 2009) or with 2n = 3x = 27 chromosomes (Cesca 1986, Kamari 1991a). …”