Giemsa C-banded karyotypes of Avena species

Giemsa C-banding was used to identify individual somatic chromosomes in eight diploid species of Avena. Two patterns of heterochromatin distribution were found. The chromosomes of five A genome species (A. strigosa, A. hirtula, A. longiglumis, A. damascena, and A. canariensis) possessed mainly telomeric bands, whereas those from three C genome species (A. clauda, A. pilosa, and A. ventricosa) were characterized by higher chromatin condensation and several intercalary heterochromatin bands. The divergent evolution between the two groups is confirmed after C-banding. The unique C-banding patterns of several chromosomes in each species will be a useful tool for the study of meiotic behaviour in interspecific hybrids among Avena spp.