Genetic variation in the strongly canalized sex pheromone communication system of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis hubner (Lepidoptera; Pyralidae)

The major difference in pheromone production between the so-called E and Z strains of the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis is controlled by two alleles at a single autosomal locus. E-strain females produce an (E)-11- tetradecenyl acetate pheromone with 1-3% of the Z isomer, whereas Z-strain females produce the opposite blend. In laboratory-reared insects we found that F1 females produced, on average, a 71:29 E/Z ratio, but the distribution was clearly bimodal. The variability in pheromone blend produced by heterozygous females could be explained by the existence of two different alleles in the Z strain which in combination with the E-strain allele for the major production locus cause the production of a component mixture either high or low in the E isomer. In addition, evidence was found for an independently inherited factor, existing in the E-strain, with a dominant effect on the amount of E isomer produced by females homozygous for Z- alleles at the major production locus. Thus, the low variability normally found in the pheromone mixture produced by O. nubilalis and other moth females may, by canalization, hide a considerable amount of underlying genetic variation.

Löfstedt, ChristerLund University,Lunds universitet,Funktionell zoologi,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Functional zoology,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science(Swepub:lu)ekol-clo (författare)
Bengtsson, Bengt O.Lund University,Lunds universitet,Molekylär cellbiologi,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Molecular Cell Biology,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science(Swepub:lu)gen-bob (författare)
Lund UniversityFunktionell zoologi (creator_code:org_t)

Av författaren/redakt...: Zhu, Junwei; Löfstedt, Christ ...; Bengtsson, Bengt ...

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