G-band-like differentiation in mitotic prometaphase chromosomes of celery [Apium graveolens]

Mitotic prometaphase chromosomes of celery (Apium graveolens ) stained with acetocarmine exhibited a large number of interstitial heterochromatic bands that could not be resolved at metaphase. Comparison between these banding patterns and those produced by Giemsa C-banding showed that 1) interstitial bands were not stained by Giemsa, 2) C-bands appeared at all centromere regions, and 3) telomeric regions were variable in affinity to acetocarmine and Giemsa. These results strongly suggest that the differentiation in prometaphase chromosomes of celery is equivalent to G-bands obtained in metaphase chromosomes by higher vertebrates.