Implication of a basic chromosome number of x=14 in seven cultivars of two varieties of Colocasia esculenta by fluorescent in situ hybridization using rDNA probe

Abstract

Mitotic chromosome of two cultivars of Colocasia esculenta var. aquatilis and five cultivars of C. esculenta var. esculenta was investigated by the standard aceto-orcein staining method and the fluorescent in situ hybridization with ribosomal DNA probe (rDNA). One cultivar of C. esculenta var. aquatilis and three cultivars of C. esculenta var. esculenta showed the chromosome number of 2n=28, and exhibited an rDNA site on two chromosomes in a mitotic complement. On the other hand, one cultivar of C esculenta var. aquatilis and two cultivars of C. esculenta var. esculenta showed the chromosome number of 2n=42, and exhibited an rDNA site on three chromosomes in a mitotic complement. These results supported the basic chromosome number of x=14 in C. esculenta.