A reinvestigation of the lecanoid chromosome system in Kerria lacca (Kerr)

Abstract

A cytological reinvestigation of somatic cells and of spermatogenesis in the Indian lac insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr), confirmed a typical lecanoid chromosome system. There was no A-T rich constitutive heterochromatin in its genome although the facultatively heterochromatised haploid set of chromosomes in male somatic cells fluoresced brightly with Hoechst 33258 or Quinacrine dihydrochloride. The heterochromatisation of the haploid set of chromosomes was not reversed in gut or malpighian tubule cells of the male lac insect as occurred in some other lecanoio species.