Giemsa N-banding pattern in cabbage and Chinese kale

Summary In cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) and Chinese kale (B. oleracea alboglabra) four types of N-bands can be distinguished: pericentromeric, telomeric (terminal), intercalary and satellite bands. Typical NOR bands were not observed. The pericentromeric bands appear at the pericentric regions, possibly even at the centromeres of all chromosomes. Telomeric bands are observed on the short arms of chromosomes 1,5 and 6 in cabbage and chromosomes 1 and 5 in Chinese kale. Intercalary bands stained weakly in the long arms of chromosome 3 in cabbage and chromosome 2 in Chinese kale. Satellite bands cover the entire satellites in both Brassica species. The N-banding pattern is very similar in appearance to the C-banding pattern in both species and much more convenient to apply.