Giemsa C-banding in Asiatic taxa of Hordeum section Stenostachys with notes on chromosome morphology

Abstract

C-banding patterns of eight cytotypes of six Asiatic taxa of Hordeum sect. Stenostachys were characterized by (1) the small size of most centromeric bands, (2) the paucity and generally small size of the intercalary bands and of the bands at the secondary constrictions, and (3) the existence in some taxa of conspicuous and, particularly in H. brevisubulatum ssp. violaceum, 2x, even large telomeric bands. The large variation in C-banding patterns surpasses that earlier observed in the genus and agrees with that of other genera. C-band polymorphism was widespread except within plants of self-compatible taxa. The C-banded area of the chromosomes was estimated to vary between 3 and 18 % in different taxa. Basic C-banded karyotypes of four taxa were produced through the use of interspecific hybrids. Certain identification of taxa, based on C-banding patterns alone, proved questionable. Obvious chromosome polymorphisms were observed in SAT-chromosomes of one taxon.