Inheritance and Linkage Studies on Eye Color Mutations in Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae)

ABSTRACT Results of a study of the inheritance and linkage relationships of eye-color mutations in the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae), are presented. The mutations white eyes (we) and yellow eyes (ye) are recessive and autosomal, whereas Red eyes (Re) and Violet eyes (Ve) are dominant, and the latter is homozygous lethal. The genes we and ye showed epistatic interaction, the first with ye, Re, and Ve, and the second with Re. The results of the various crosses suggest that only Ve and ye are linked, so the linkage groups have been designated as A- we, B- Ve-ye, and C- Re. Study of these mutants in A. ludens will serve as the basis for the development of a genetic map for this species. The mutations also will be useful for the development of a genetic-sexing method.