Fluorescence imaging has become a central tool in plant cell biology, enabling detailed analysis of cellular structures and dynamics. However, challenges such as phototoxicity, photobleaching, and the invasiveness of fluorescent labeling have driven the development of artificial intelligence (AI)-based alternatives. Among these, deep learning-based segmentation and virtual staining have shown significant promise for advancing plant cell microscopy. Compared with traditional methods reliant on manual operations or simple thresholding algorithms, segmentation powered by AI-based image transformation offers enhanced accuracy and reproducibility in quantifying cellular features. Moreover, virtual staining transforms bright-field images into synthetic fluorescence images, enabling non-invasive, high-resolution analyses while bypassing the need for physical labeling. Together, these techniques expand the analytical capabilities of plant cell microscopy, facilitating efficient and precise imaging workflows. Despite their potential, these approaches face technical challenges. Virtual staining relies heavily on high-quality bright-field images and is currently constrained when applied to three-dimensional analyses of complex plant tissues. Future efforts must focus on developing diverse training datasets and advancing AI technologies to overcome these limitations. By offering automated segmentation and virtual staining, AI is transforming plant cell microscopy into a more versatile and powerful tool, paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries and broader applications in plant cell biology.

Conventional chromosome preparation methods were used to observe and analyze the karyotypes of six Callicarpa species. We also analyzed the evolutionary trends and performed parametric clustering based on karyotypic features for 22 Callicarpa species. This research aimed to complement the chromosomal information for Callicarpa, and provide a cytological basis for further exploration of phylogenetic relationships in this genus. The results showed that (1) six Callicarpa species were diploid with chromosome number 2n=2x=34, 36, and 38. The karyotypes consisted of median centromeric chromosomes (m) and submedian centromeric chromosomes (sm), and the karyotypes were 1B, 2A, and 2B, which suggested relatively primitive types. (2) C. integerrima, C. rubella, and C. macrophylla were inferred to be the more advanced species, with C. integerrima having the most advanced karyotype according to Stebbins’ theory of karyotype evolutionary trends in plants. (3) Clustering of karyotypic parameters classified 22 species of Callicarpa into four major groups. In addition, we discussed the clustering results in comparison with the traditional classification system of Callicarpa, which showed partial agreement between the karyotypic clustering and the traditional classification.

In plant cells, the daughter nuclei produced by mitosis migrate away from the cell plate following cytokinesis. It has been reported that this migration requires actin filaments and microtubules. However, the precise molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we conducted time-lapse observations of tobacco BY-2 cells, in which microtubules and nuclei were visualized. Observations in cells of varying widths and lengths revealed that the rate of nuclear migration after cytokinesis differed significantly between cells. Cell width had a greater impact on migration speed than cell length, with narrower cells exhibiting more active nuclear migration. Perinuclear microtubules were more prominent in narrow cells with faster nuclear migration than in wider cells with slower migration. Additionally, observations in the presence of an actin-disrupting agent showed that in cells forming extra-phragmoplasts, as previously reported, daughter nuclei scarcely migrated even after the original phragmoplast disappeared. Conversely, in cells without extra-phragmoplasts, partial nuclear migration occurred. Interestingly, in cells with extra-phragmoplasts, perinuclear microtubules barely formed after the original phragmoplast disappeared, whereas in cells without extra-phragmoplasts, perinuclear microtubules formed after the original phragmoplast disappeared. These findings suggest that perinuclear microtubules play a crucial role in daughter nuclear migration.

To investigate the mitotic and meiotic chromosome behaviors of the polyploid Drosera group, D. filiformis and D. rotundifolia were observed using orcein staining and DNA base-specific fluorescence staining with two counterstaining fluorochromes: GC-specific chromomycin A₃ (CMA) and AT-specific 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Both species exhibited 2n=20 and n=10_II. No clear primary constrictions were observed in the mitotic metaphase chromosomes of either species. At mitotic anaphase, sister chromatids of each chromosome separated parallel to each other, exhibiting uniform separation in both species. In the DNA base-specific staining, two CMA-positive and DAPI-negative (CMA⁺DAPI⁻) satellites were observed at one end of two chromosomes in D. filiformis, whereas no obvious satellites were detected in D. rotundifolia except in one strain. A single CMA⁻DAPI⁺ band was observed on each of the 20 chromosomes in D. filiformis, while no CMA⁻DAPI⁺ bands were observed in D. rotundifolia. In meiosis, each bivalent in both species clearly exhibited a localized centromere at metaphase of the first meiotic division (metaphase I). However, the bivalent morphologies of the centromeric regions during chromosome segregation at metaphase I differed markedly between the two species: The centromeres of D. filiformis were spherical shape with CMA⁻DAPI⁺ bands, while the centromeres of D. rotundifolia were needlelike shape and lacked any fluorescence bands.

The Cardueae, a tribe within the family Asteraceae, comprises approximately 1,600 species, many of which are commonly known as thistles and have significant ecological and economic importance, particularly as weeds. The chromosome number in this tribe ranges from 2n=20 to 108, based on x=12, 13, 16, or 17, although the primary base number remains unclear. This meiotic study, which includes nine genera and 17 species (34 populations) from the Northwest Himalayas, contributes new or varying cytotypes to help address the cytogenetic diversity within the tribe. The chromosome count of 2n=34 in Serratula pallida is newly reported worldwide, while Echinops echinatus (2n=30) and Centaurea calcitrapa (2n=20) are first-time reports for Indian populations. Meiotic analyses across different populations reveal a substantial occurrence of abnormalities, including chromosome stickiness, misaligned bivalents, cytomixis, and laggards, resulting in meiocytes with either fewer or additional chromosomes (aneuploidy) or entire extra sets of chromosomes (polyploidy). These abnormalities may lead to the formation of unreduced pollen grains, negatively impacting pollen viability. The high frequency of these meiotic irregularities could be a contributing factor to the variation in chromosome numbers within the tribe.

We researched coat coloration, chromosomal polymorphism, and mitochondrial DNA in a small population of the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus, in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture of central Honshu, Japan. In the research area, higher frequency of the non-agouti coat coloration (29.4%), and heteromorphic pairs of subtelocentrics (ST) and telocentrics (T) in the Nos. 3 (57.2%) and 12 (14.3%) homologues were observed. Previously, such coat coloration and chromosomal heterozygosity have been confirmed at lower frequencies in some localities in Japan. In addition, according to the Hardy–Weinberg test for the current zygosities for both homologues, both F_IS values statistically indicating denial of inbreeding (p＞0.05) were apparently different and Fisher’s test revealed the rejection of independent inheritance of both homologues (p＞0.1). Moreover, the non-agouti individuals frequently carried the No. 3 chromosome of ST. These facts would be caused by a certain bias of some combinations of zygosities of both homologues. Furthermore, the mitochondrial DNA results revealed quite lower nucleotide diversity indicating the occurrence of a recent bottleneck. Considering the higher incidence of the non-agouti coat with frequent No. 3 chromosome of ST and such a bias of combinations of both homologue zygosities, it is concluded that inbreeding has been progressed after a bottleneck event in the current research area and a certain No. 3 chromosome of ST carrying a mutant allele causing the non-agouti seems to be accumulated there. Accordingly, the coat and chromosomal tendencies of the research area seem to be unique, that are different from those of other localities.

The chromosome numbers and the karyotypic characters of four species of the genus Aspidistra Ker-Gawl. from Guangxi, China were reported for the first time. A. radiata is a new record to Guangxi and formulated as 2n=38=24m+2sm+12st. The karyotype formulas of A. longgangensis and A. molendinaceae share the same karyotype formulas of 2n=38=22m+4sm+12st. A karyotype of A. longipetala is formulated as 2n=38=22m+2sm+14st.

This study investigated the somatic chromosome numbers and morphometric properties of five species belonging to the genera Hyoscyamus and Archihyoscyamus (Solanaceae) from Turkey. These species are H. albus L., H. aureus L., H. niger L., H. reticulatus L., and A. leptocalyx (Stapf) A.M.Lu. The chromosome number and morphology of the species were investigated using karyological techniques. In the literature, two different basic chromosome numbers are mentioned for the Hyoscyamus genus, x=14 and 17. However, the chromosome number was determined as 2n=2x=34 in all species used in this study. The Stebbins classification system grouped all species in class 2A. Also, chromosome number, total chromosome length, haploid chromosome length, relative length, arm ratio, centromere index, centromere position, karyotype asymmetry values, and karyotype formula were determined. Chromosome numbers of H. aureus and A. leptocalyx were defined for the first time in this study.

The comprehensive karyological studies were undertaken for Ageratum conyzoides Linn. and Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk of the Asteraceae family in Bangladesh. The present report deals with somatic chromosome numbers, total chromosome length, arm ratio, centromeric position, Stebbins classification along with other karyotypic parameters, distribution pattern, and percentage of AT- and GC-rich DNA sequences with orcein, chromomycin A₃ (CMA), and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) stainings. somatic chromosome numbers of 2n=40 and 2n=22 were observed in A. conyzoides and E. alba, respectively. The total diploid chromosome length of A. conyzoides and E. alba was 142.3 and 86.5 µm, respectively. Karyological data of both species suggested 1A karyotype. A. conyzoides showed only CMA bands whereas E. alba had both CMA and DAPI bands. Except for somatic chromosome number, the karyomorphological information and fluorescent banding pattern of A. conyzoides and E. alba are reported for the first time.