Atomic force microscopy has been applied to the study of plant chromosomes from cereal grasses Triticum aestivum (bread wheat), Triticum tauschii, and Hordeum vulgare (barley). Using standard mitotic metaphase squashes, high resolution images have been obtained of untreated chromosomes and also of chromosomes after C-banding, N-banding, and in situ hybridization. The true 3-dimensional nature of the images permits detailed analysis of the surface structure and, on untreated uncoated chromosomes, surface features on a length scale consistent with nucleosome structures have been observed. C+and N+regions are manifest as areas of high relief on a slightly collapsed chromosome structure. In situ hybridization leads to a more severe degradation of the native structure, although it is still possible to correlate the optical signal with the topography of the hybridized chromosome. Key words : atomic force microscope, AFM, chromosomes, C-banding, in situ hybridization.