Chromosome number and karyotype analyses on some Tentyria latreille, 1802 (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae) species

ABSTRACT Chromosome Number and Karyotype Analyses on Some Tentyria Latreille, 1802 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Species KAYA, Remzi MSc in Biology Supervisor: Assoc. Doç. Dr. Nurşen ALPAGUT KESKİN June 2015, 37 pages In these study, cytogenetic analysis in three tenebrionid beetle species Tentyria rotundata, T. cypira, T. euphratica were performed. Mitotic and meiotic chromosome preparation were obtained from male and female gonads and analysed using conventional Giemsa, C-banding and AgNOR staining. These three species show resemblance in their chromosome number, morphology and sex determination systems. It was found that they all have 2n=20 chromosome number which is considered ancestral for Coleoptera (Polyphaga). Sex determination systems are XX(♀) and Xyp (♂) (2n ♂ = 18 + Xyp / 2n ♀ = 18 + XX) as observed in 75% of Tenebrionidae family. The X chromosome is middle sized (between 5. and 6. otosomal pairs), y chromosome is the smallest of the karyotype and it is dot-shaped. It was observed that NORs are associated with sex chromosomes. Using CHIAS 4 plugin, various heterochromatin distributions in otosomes 4., 6., 8. and y chromosome of these three species were noted. Furthermore, an individual that belongs to Tentyria rotundata, which has ovaries and testicals out of the ordinary was studied cytogenetically. With these studies, the existence of an additional X chromosome was determined in this individual's karyotype.