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Genetic basis of color variation in leaf scars induced by the Kanzawa spider mite
Author(s) -
Yano Shuichi,
Kanaya Miki,
Takafuji Akio
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
entomologia experimentalis et applicata
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1570-7458
pISSN - 0013-8703
DOI - 10.1046/j.1570-7458.2003.00005.x
Subject(s) - biology , spider mite , acari , white (mutation) , scars , skin color , botany , zoology , genetics , medicine , surgery , artificial intelligence , computer science , gene
The color of scars induced on host leaves by the phytophagous spider mite Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida (Acari: Tetranychidae) can be categorized as red or white. We conducted a bi‐directional selection on the colors of leaf scars. In each of the selected strains, scars became uniformly red or white (‘Red’ and ‘White’ strains), indicating that scar color was genetically determined. Reciprocal and back‐crosses between strains suggested that the Red genotype was fully dominant over the White one and was controlled by a single locus. The performance index of adult females that induced red or white scars (‘Red’ and ‘White’ females) did not differ significantly among nine tested host plants. There seemed to be no advantages of heterozygosity at either the individual or the colony level. However, Red females defoliated host plants earlier than did White females. As a consequence, Red females dispersed from infested leaves earlier than White ones. The distribution pattern of Red and White females in the wild supported the hypothesis that genetic variation is maintained by different dispersal costs across environments.