Genetic control of Delia antiqua (Meigen) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae). Sensitivity to diapause interfering with a field-cage experiment using a homozygous chromosomal translocation

Abstract

AbstractA translocation homozygous strain (TT) of Delia antiqua (Mg) was released into a field cage in Wageningen, The Netherlands, together with a standard laboratory strain (++). During the course of the season, the fecundity and fertility of the adults were measured together with the karyotype frequencies (TT+; T+; ++) of the F1 progeny. No selective disadvantage of the translocation karyotypes was observed. However, only four F1 adults emerged in the field cage; therefore a sample of pupae was removed from the cage, and it was shown that nearly 100% of the surviving pupae had entered diapause. This figure was confirmed from the remainder of the pupae. The fertility of eggs from the emerging adults was reduced to 54%, compared with the standard fertility of nearly 90%, but because of the diapause response of the strains used, the effect of this reduced fertility in the field-cage population could not be followed. The reasons for the change in diapause response of the laboratory strains are discussed and suggestions made as to how this could be prevented. The report highlights the importance of quality in control techniques involving translocations.