Differential Fluorescent Banding in Nine Varieties of Cicer arietinum L.

Abstract

Nine varieties of Cicer arietinum L. (chickpea) released by Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), viz. BC-1 (BARI Chola-1), BC-2, BC-3, BC-4, BC-5, BC-6, BC-7, BC-8 and BC-9, represented a broad spectrum of variation for several phenotypic and agronomic traits. For authentic characterization, these varieties were investigated cytogenetically by differential fluorescent banding. The nine chickpea varieties were found to possess 2n=16 metacentric chromosomes. A wide range of CMA-positive bands (5–20) was found in the metaphase chromosomes of the nine varieties. Two satellites were found in the first pair of only BC-2, BC-3, BC-4, BC-6, BC-8 and BC-9 after DAPI-staining. No satellite was found after CMA-staining. The differential staining property of satellites revealed the stain specific nature of these satellites. Entirely DAPI-fluoresced chromosomes were frequent in these varieties. The number, location and distributions of GC- and AT-rich repeats are specific for each variety. Some CMA- and DAPI-bands were so unique that these chromosomes could easily be used as marker chromosomes for the respective varieties. Fluorescent banding revealed the occurrence of genomic alteration within these varieties. Therefore, each variety could be characterized authentically by fluorescent banding analysis.