A method for differential staining of centromere regions of plant chromosomes

Abstract

A highly reproducible method for differential staining of the centromere regions of plant chromosomes was reported. In all of the fifteen plant species used, the centromere regions of metaphase chromosomes were differentially stained. The method, which was proposed to call “HCl-Ag-I method”, comprised of the fixation with glacial acetic alcohol, the enzyme maceration and flame-drying, the treatment with 0.2N HCl, and the incubation in 50% aqueous solution of AgNO3. The chromosomes stained with the present method were least damaged, and their morphological features were preserved well. © 1982, The Genetics Society of Japan. All rights reserved.