Genetics of shell color in Mytilus edulis L. and the association of growth rate with shell color

Abstract

A number of crosses were made with individual mussels, Mytilus edulis L., which varied in shell color. The results confirm a previously published report that variation in shell color is predominately determined by a simple genetic mechanism. A study of several year classes from two separate populations shows that: (a) there is a substantial difference in the frequency of color morphs; and (b) within each population and each year class the brown morphs are 10–20% smaller than the blue morphs. These results have implications for the commercial culture of mussels.