Giemsa C-banding of Barley Chromosomes. I: Banding Pattern Polymorphism

Twenty barley (Hordeum vulgare) lines studied had a common basic chromosome banding pattern. Most bands ranged from medium to very small in size. The most conspicuous banding occurred at or near the centromeres, in the proximal, intercalary parts of most chromosome arms and beside the secondary constrictions of the satellited chromosomes. Small to very small bands were always present at the chromosome ends. In addition, some lines had 1 distinct, intercalary band in the distal half of the long arm of one or more non-satellited chromosomes. Fifteen locations out of 33 with distinct bands showed band heteromorphy; the heteromorphy was the result of variation in band size or of the presence or apparent absence of a particular band. The band heteromorphy resulted in 2 different banding pattern variants of chromosomes 1 and 4, 3 of chromosomes 2 and 5, 4 of chromosome 3, 6 of chromosome 6 and 8 of chromosome 7. Seventeen differently banded karyotypes were found. Some banding pattern polymorphisms can be used in cytological and cytogenetic studies.