Feulgen-DNA content and C-banding of robertsonian transformed karyotypes in dugesia lugubris

In the planarian species, Dugesia lugubris, two biotypes are found: E (2n = 8, n = 4) and F (2n = 6, n = 3); on the basis of karyometric studies it has been hypothesized that the second was derived from the first through a Robertsonian mechanism of centric fusion. The quantitative cytochemical data reported here confirm the hypothesis of karyotype evolution, since there are no significant differences between the DNA content of the nucleus in the two biotypes. The regenerative blastemas of both biotypes contain a number of cellular populations with a variable Feulgen-DNA content; these correspond to successive doublings of the 2C diploid content. In addition, metaphase plates with multistranded chromosomes have been found. A difference between the chromosome C-banding in the two biotypes has also been observed.