Combined cycloheximide and 8-hydroxyquinoline pretreatment for study of plant chromosomes.

The actions of cycloheximide and 8-hydroxyquinoline on dividing cells of root meristems of Zea mays L. have been studied during the development of a new cytological technique for sugar cane (Saccharum) root tips. The determination of mitotic phase indices revealed that combined treatment with cycloheximide (70 ppm) plus 8-hydroxyquinoline (250 ppm) was superior to treatments with either chemical separately. After the combined treatment, the preparations contained nearly ten times more cells in prophase and metaphase that were suitable for chromosome counting than those given a single pretreatment with 8-hydroxyquinoline. This new pretreatment has been developed especially for chromosome studies in tropical grasses with a large number of small chromosomes. However, both chemicals are active in a wide range of plant species.