3.2. DAPI staining
Many good images of the well-spread somatic chromosomes
at the metaphase stage were obtained from diploid and
octoploid plants (Fig. 2A and C). For both octoploid and diploid
plants, the images of the chromosomes stained with the DAPI
solution were superior to those of the chromosomes stained
with the lacto-propionic orcein solution. The results showed
that both cultivars of F.ananassa and F. vesca are,
respectively, octoploid 2n = 56 and diploid 2n = 14. Figs.
1(A, B) and 2(A, C) show 56 and 14 chromosomes in octoploid
and diploid somatic cells. Particularly, the good images of
chromosomes with clearer cytoplasm were obtained from the
samples that had been pressed with 60% acetic acid and
warmed using an alcohol lamp, as indicated by Schwarzacher
and Heslop-Harrison (2000, p. 58).