Fluorescence banding in mitotic and meiotic chromosomes of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Mitotic and meiotic chromosomes of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, were studied using three counterstain-enhanced fluorescence staining methods. The tristaining technique allowed chromomycin A3 (CMA) and distamycin – diamidinophenylindole (DA–DAPI) fluorescence to be observed on the same chromosomes. DAPI–actinomycin D (DAPI–AMD) fluorescence was also carried out. These techniques were complemented with quinacrine staining and C-banding. The results were compared with earlier data on silver staining. The sex chromosomes, particularly the X chromosome, show great banding detail with extensive longitudinal differentiation in mitotic chromosomes. GC- and AT-specific fluorescence is not found in the expected reciprocal pattern at all sites. Comparison with C-banding and silver staining shows that intense fluorescence occurs in lightly C banded regions and silver bands correspond to fluorescent bands rather than nucleolar organizers. The combination of staining data suggests that much of the X chromosome has characteristics intermediate between heterochromatin and euchromatin. Meiotic X chromosomes show much less detail and reduced fluorescence intensity but can still be easily traced throughout meiosis and spermatogenesis.