Chromatin structure (e.g. heterochromatin content) may be evaluated by flow cytometric analysis of nuclei stained by fluorochromes which bind to DNA by different modes (e.g. intercalation / binding to major or minor groove of DNA molecule).
Figure 26. Linear regression of Propidium Iodide (PI) / DAPI fluorescence ratio versus percentage heterochromatin in maize lines. (Rayburn et al., 1992)
