Neo-sex chromosome diversity in Neotropical melanopline grasshoppers (Melanoplinae, Acrididae)

We report the results of a study on the neo-sex chromosome systems of six Neotropical Melanoplinae species for contributing to a better understanding of their origin and behaviour of these systems. Our analyses included detailed descriptions of the structure and behaviour of the sex chromosome configurations in male and female meiosis of species belonging to the genera Ronderosia, Dichromatos and Atrachelacris. Three species, R. forcipatus, R. malloi and A. unicolor, showed typical Robertsonian fusion-derived neo sex-chromosomes. However, the male metaphase I orientation of R. bergi sex pair indicated that more than one rearrangement was involved in its origin. The two species of Dichromatos presented a multiple neo-X₁X₂Y/X₁X₁X₂X₂ sex system, with two Robertsonian fusions involved in their genesis. Observations of female meiosis, confirmed the nature of the sex-chromosomes analyzed. Our results also showed different degrees of homology divergence between the neo-sex chromosomes and emphasize the plasticity of the chromosome complement of the Neotropical Melanoplinae to establish Robertsonian fusions and generate novel sex-chromosome systems. We also discuss karyotypic diversity within this group in terms of the centromeric drive theory of chromosomal evolution.