Visualization and Distribution of Heterochromatin in Inter-phase Nuclei of Several Plant Species as Revealed by a New Giemsa Banding Technique

Abstract

The structural diversity of interphase chromatin in many distantly related plant species is described. Heterochromatin, which is visualized by a new Giemsa banding technique remains attached to a specific point on the inner side of nuclear membrane and determines a species specific orientation of chromatin. It is suggested that heterochromatin is responsible for non random arrangement of chromatin, somatic association and structural diversity of chromatin arrangement at interphase.