Cytology of Vicia species. VI. Nuclear chromatin organization, karyomorphological analysis and DNA amount in Vicia serratifolia Jacq.

Karyomorphological features of Vicia serratifolia Jacq. were studied: the nuclear DNA content was determined in meristematic root cells, karyotype and morphometric data were generated by an automated image analysis system and the distribution and staining properties of heterochromatin were assessed in metaphase chromosomes. Moreover, Feulgen absorption at different thresholds of optical density provided evidence on the organization of the chromatin in interphase nucleus. The collected data were compared with those previously gathered in V. faba used as internal standard and V. narbonensis considered the reference species of the Narbonensis complex.