SEX AND CROSSING OVER IN LINKAGE GROUP III OFTRIBOLIUM CASTANEUM

Abstract

The relative position of the genes black (b), light ocular diaphragm (lod) and aureate (au) for the third linkage group of T. castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) has been determined as b – lod – au. The distances between the various genes vary, depending on the cross. The b++/+ lod au ♂ × + lod au/+ lod au ♀ crosses give the following recombination values: au – lod = 18.32 ± 1.21%; b – lod = 21.05 ± 1.51% and b – au = 37.43 ± 1.27%. The reciprocal crosses give au – lod = 27.67 ± 1.62%; b – lod = 13.97 ± 1.26% and b – au = 39.79 ± 1.78%. For the larger distances encompassed in the b – au region the recombination values in the two sexes were not significantly different. For the shorter b – lod region the recombination values were significantly larger in the females than in the males, while for the adjacent lod – au region the opposite was true. On the basis of the current literature it would appear that the main factors contributing to these sex differences in recombination are the modifiers which are different in the genetic background of the two sexes.