Chromosome polymorphism of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from the River Dzwina, Baltic Sea Basin: arm length and NOR location variation of the eighth chromosome

Abstract

A population of Atlantic salmon from the River Dzwina was karyotyped using conventional staining and banding techniques. The chromosome number was 2n = 58, and the chromosome arm number (NF) was 74. Variation in the size of the long arm of the eighth chromosome pair was observed. The presence of constitutive heterochromatin on this arm was confirmed by C-banding. Silver banding revealed variability in the location of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) on this arm. Four cytotypes and three phenotypes of the NOR-bearing chromosome were found. The polymorphism of the eighth metacentric pair of chromosomes observed in Atlantic salmon was probably due to deletion and paracentric inversion of the arm involved.