Inheritance of the ability of strains of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to breed on split-pea (Pisum sativum)

Abstract

AbstractSitophilus oryzae (L.) is a pest of stored grain, hut most strains tested so far fail to breed on yellow split-peas (Pisum sativum) and these can be used in admixture to protect other grains from infestation by the weevil. However, seven strains of S. oryzae have been found to breed on yellow split-peas, and the inheritance of this ability was investigated in two of these strains, one from Lesotho and the other from Trinidad. In each strain, the pattern of inheritance showed that the ability to breed on split-peas was controlled by a single autosomal recessive gene. It was not possible to distinguish whether the same genetic locus was involved in each strain. Control is either by two alleles at the same locus or by functionally similar alleles at different loci. There was some evidence that the genetic background of the two strains is different and that the Lesotho strain carries a sex-linked lethal gene. The existence of a heritable ability of some strains of s. oryzae to breed on split-peas suggests that the usefulness of admixture of split-peas with other grain may be limited