GIEMSA N-BANDING PATTERN IN TETRAPLOID TAXA OF HORDEUM MARINUM HUDS

The N-band patterns of heterochromatin distribution in tetraploid taxa of Hordeum marinum chromosomes was studied to identify general patterns or preferential sites for heterochromatin. An ideogram was developed for each studied taxa of Hordeum marinum for the description of individual N-bands. Giemsa N-banding patterns of tetraploid taxa of H. marinum and ssp. marinum were characterized by having 3-4 bands per chromosome on an average, distributed at centromeric, telomeric and intercalary positions. Chromosomes1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 13 and 14 of tetraploid taxa showed minor polymorphism in their banding pattern. Negligible variation in banding pattern among tetraploid taxa, tend to suggest that N-heterochromatin has played a minor role in bringing about the species differentiation in H. marinum.