The orientation behaviour of multiple chromosome configurations in acridid grasshoppers

Abstract

The existing data on the behaviour of multiple chromosome configurations arising from single interchanges between either metacentric–telocentric or telocentric–telocentric nonhomologues in 10 species of acridid grasshoppers are compared with data from four new cases. Two of these new cases involve metacentric–telocentric exchanges but the other two, for the first time in acridids, deal with a reciprocal translocation between two nonhomologous metacentrics. The combined data are used to evaluate the factors that influence multiple orientation in this family of grasshoppers and reemphasize the importance of chiasma frequency and chiasma distribution for multiple behaviour. This conclusion is reinforced by a consideration of the known cases of chain of three multiples originating from the Robertsonian fusion of nonhomologous telocentrics in acridoids. Key words: acridid grasshoppers, multiple chromosome configurations, chiasma distribution, orientation behaviour.