Karyotypic analysis, constitutive heterochromatin and NOR distribution in five grasshopper species of the subfamily Leptysminae (Acrididae)

Abstract

Cornops aquaticum, C. frenatum frenatum, Stenopola dorsalis, Ste-nacris xanthochlora and Tucayaca parvula were analyzed cytologically by standard staining, C-banding, silver nitrate staining (AgNO3) and base-specific fluorochromes. All species had 23, XO karyotypes in males and 24, XX in females, acrocentric chromosomes and pericentromeric C-bands. In addition, distal bands were revealed in C. aquaticum, C. f. frenatum and S. dorsalis. Triple staining CMA3/DA/DAPI revealed CMA3-positive bands in three biva-lents of C. aquaticum and S. xanthochlora, in four of T. parvula, five of S. dor-salis, and in all chromosomes of C. f. frenatum. Staining with DAPI fluo-rochrome was uniform. The nucleolar organizer regions detected by AgNO3 staining were limited to autosomes in all the species and showed correspondence with GC base pairs distribution detected by sequential staining (AgNO3/CMA3/DA). © 2004 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.