Genetische Methoden zur Schädlingsbekämpfung

Summary

Genetics has provided means for the improvement of livestock and crop and guidelines for the betterment of human populations (eugenics). Only very recently interest has turned also to deleterious genetic factors and mechanisms for control and eradication of pests (dysgenics). As probable candidates for such measures are listed: cytoplasmic incompatibility, hybrid sterility, artificial sterilization, translocations, inversions and deleterious genes. These mechanisms are described briefly and their use for control is discussed. In this evaluation it turus out that besides cytoplasmic incompatibility the use of translocations would be very promising (Fig. 2). Other mechanisms have certain drawbacks and the application of deleterious genes seems to have the least prospects (Fig. 3). Total eradication of a field population of Culex fatigans by cytoplasmic incompatibility is reported (Fig. 1).