New C-banding pattern for chromosome identification in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

A chromosome study of cucumber, C. sativus L., was performed using orcein and C-banding techniques. The diploid and tetraploid plants investigated here showed the somatic chromosome numbers 2n = 14 and 28, respectively. The haploid chromosome complement was composed of five metacentric and two submetacentric chromosomes. All C. sativus chromosomes had clearly visible C-bands, and each chromosome could be identified unequivocally after C-banding staining, with 13 C-bands appearing in the haploid complement. The haploid complement had a 44.9% ratio of total C-band length to total chromosome length. Chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 had stable C-bands. Three large, dark C-bands appeared at the proximal regions of chromosomes 1 and 2. Chromosome 1 had quite a large C-band and with a 68.4% ratio of C-band length to short arm length. Chromosome 2 also had quite a large C-band in the pericentromeric region with a 57.6% ratio of C-band length to the full length of this chromosome and possessed an elongated primary constriction in early metaphase. In prometaphase, chromosome ? showed that the long arm was completely separated from the short arm. The number of secondary constrictions could not be clearly observed because these chromosomes are small and they could not be counted in every metaphase cell. However, six chromosomes seemed to have secondary constrictions in the diploid plants. Two silver-stained bands were observed at primary constrictions of two of the large chromosomes.