Ribosomal RNA genes and the substructure of nucleolar organizing regions in Lilium

We have examined the location and organization of nucleolar organizing regions (NORs) in the species Lilium henryi (with four NORs per diploid cell), L. longiflorum, and L. speciosum (each with six NORs), and the hybrids Lilium × 'Black Beauty' (five NORs) and Lilium × parkmannii (eight NORs). The relative number of genes in individual NORs was assayed by in situ hybridization using in vitro labelled ribosomal RNA (rRNA). An estimate of their relative transcriptional activity was obtained by scoring silver band size over the constriction. There was no clear correlation between gene number and activity at specific NORs. Rather, gene number correlated quite well with the relative size of heterochromatin usually found adjacent to NOR constrictions and stained by an acid-banding method. It is possible that many but a variable fraction of the rRNA genes in Lilium NORs are held inactive in nucleolar heterochromatin.Key words: ribosomal RNA genes, Lilium, nucleolus, in situ hybridization, heterochromatin, silver banding.