Structural changes of Ag-stained nucleolus organizing regions and nucleoli during meiosis in Allium flavum

Abstract

Microsporogenesis of Allium flavum was investigated by light microscopy using a silver impregnation technique. Ag-positive structures were present at the nucleolus organizing regions (NORs) in all stages of the meiotic cycle. During prophase I the nucleoli were found to be composed of a strongly impregnated central and a weakly impregnated peripheral component, probably corresponding to the pars fibrosa and pars granulosa, respectively. A heteromorphism with regard to the presence of a NOR allowed the determination of the crossing-over frequency in the chromosome arm concerned.