Cytogenetics of rutaceae. III. heterochromatin patterns

Abstract

The patterns of heterochromatin distribution was analysed in 22 species pertaining to 15 genera of Rutaceae. The chromosomes were stained by diferent techniques in an attempt to distinguish the heteropicnotic regions from the true heterochromatic one. The results show a wide diversity of patterns in the family although there is a tendency to maintain the same pattern for each analysed genus. The distribution of heterochromatin blocks were telomeric and/or centromeric but never intersticial. For each karyotype the heterochromatin tend to occur preferentially at the same position on a chromosome. The meaning of the equilocality of the heterochromatin is discussed. © 1985 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.