Comparative study of chromosome morphology and C-banding patterns in several genotypes of Lens culinaris.

Karyotype and C-banding patterns of mitotic chromosomes in 10 cultivars and landraces of lentil were studied. Aceto-iron-hematoxilin staining and Giemsa C-banding techniques were used to staining choromosomes and banding patterns analysis, respectively. Chromosome characteristics including long arm, short arm and chromosome lengths, total length of chromosome set, arm ratio index, relative chromosome length, the width and position of each band, heterochromatin percent per chromosome and per chromosome set were measured using Micromeasure software. The results of this study revealed that the genome of this species consisted of four pairs of metacentric and three pairs of submetacentric chromosomes. Chromosome 4 had a secondary constriction near centromeric region of its long arm. Arm ratio index of chromosomes ranged from 1.24 in chromosome 3 to 2.38 in chromosomes 6. Each chromosome, having a distinctive banding pattern, was recognizable. Karyological characteristics and banding patterns of all materials studied were similar to each other, however, some polymorph C-bands were observed on chromosome arms.