The Karyotypes, C-banding Patterns and AgNORs of Epinephelus malabaricus

The chromosome specimens of Epinephelus malabaricus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) are obtained from metaphase of kindney cell by vivi-injection of PHA and culture of colchicines, hypatoic-air drying technique, and then by studying their Giemsa stain, C-bands and AgNORs. The results are as follows: (1)E. malabaricus has a diploid chromosome number of 48 and its karyotype formula is 48t, NF=48, sex chromosome is not found. (2) There is a pair of chromosomes with secondary constriction near the centromere of chromosome t24. (3) 1～4 nucleoli appear in the nucleus of interphase, 55% nuclei has 1 nucleolus and only 2% for 4 nucleoli. (4) AgNORs appear in the chromosome t24 of 50% metaphase, sometimes in the chromosome t5, but not in other chromosomes. (5) The AgNORs polymorphisms are individually specific, 1～4 pairs of the number, and the frequency of 4 AgNORs are lowest. (6) The secondary constrictions and positive C-bands are coincident, close to the centromere of the chromosome, and mass constrictive heterochromatins appear in that region. (7) All the centromeres of chromosomes are darkly stained C-bands, and the whole arm of chromosome t24 and its centromere are same positive C-bands. (8) The evolutive regulation of the karyotype and the developing mechanism of AgNORs and C-bands are discussed.