Karyotype analysis of the genus Clivia by Giemsa and fluorochrome banding and in situ hybridization

The karyotypes of species in the genus Clivia were analyzed by using Giemsa C-banding, fluorochrome staining, silver impregnation and in situ hybridization. Banded ideograms were established with computer aided image analysis. A chromosome number of 2n = 22 and a similar basic karyotype, based on relative chromosome length and arm ratio, was found in all the four species. There were clear differences in banding pattern between the species which allowed their karyotypes, and consequently the species, to be unambiguously identified. Apart from at the centromere, heterochromatin was mainly distributed on the short arms of the smaller chromosomes. Amounts of heterochromatin in C. miniata and C. gardenii were greater than in the other two species. The number of pairs of rDNA sites, identified by in situ hybridization, ranged from one to three. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.