title: Combined PI-DAPI staining (CPD) reveals NOR asymmetry and facilitates karyotyping of plant chromosomes.
abstract: This paper presents a preparative and staining procedure for plant mitotic chromosomes that uses a combination of PI (propidium iodide) and DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindol) and which reveals a pattern of high-affinity regions for these fluorochromes. Nucleolar organiser regions (NORs), telomeres and centromeric regions exhibit high PI affinity (red), whereas other chromosomal regions exhibit high affinity for either PI (red) or DAPI (blue). NOR-bearing and other chromosomes are readily distinguished, facilitating karyotyping. The dual staining pattern was observed in all the plants tested. Aspects of NOR size, number and occurrence are discussed. A karyotype of rice metaphase chromosomes is presented, based on their fluorescent banding patterns.
authors.affiliation: The Ecology Genetics Department, Faculty of Biology-Geology, University Babes-Bolyai, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Andras
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Cocking
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Davey
mesh_terms: D002503:Centromere / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D002875:Chromosomes; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007621:Karyotyping; D008938:Mitosis; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D011419:Propidium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016615:Telomere / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007211:Indoles; D011419:Propidium; C007293:DAPI