Abstract
We have explored in Drosophila melanogaster the fitness effects of allelic variation at three enzyme loci: α Gdh, Adh, and Acph. Viability and rate of development are studied at two densities, near-optimal and competitive. No genotypic effects could be demonstrated on rate of development at either density or on viability under optimal conditions. Small but significant effects on viability appear under competitive conditions. Fecundity is measured for all nine possible mating combinations between the three female and the three male genotypes at each locus. Female genotype has important fitness consequences; heterosis exists at every locus. Male genotype also contributes to fitness, but without heterosis. There are significant interactions between female and male genotypes, so that the fecundity of a mating combination cannot be determined from the average fitnesses of the female genotype and the male genotype involved.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson W. W. & Watanabe T. K., 1974. Selection by fertility in Drosophila pseudoobscura. Genetics 77: 559–564.
Ayala F. J., Powell J. R., Tracey M. L., Mourao C. A. & Pérez-Salas S., 1972. Enzyme variability in the Drosophila willistoni group. IV. Genic variation in natural populations of Drosophila willistoni. Genetics 70: 113–139.
Berger E. M., 1976. Heterosis and the maintenance of enzyme polymorphism. Am. Nat. 110: 823–839.
Brittnacher J. G., 1981. Genetic variation and genetic load due to the male reproductive component of fitness in Drosophila. Genetics 97: 719–730.
Bundgaard J. & Christiansen F. B., 1972. Dynamics of polymorphisms: I. Selection components in an experimental population of Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 71: 439–460.
Cockerham C. C., Burrows P. M., Young S. S. & Prout T., 1972. Frequency-dependent selection in random-mating populations. Am. Nat. 106: 493–515.
Gilbert D. G., Richmond R. C. & Sheehan K. B., 1981. Studies of esterase 6 in Drosophila melanogaster. VII. The timing of remating in females inseminated by males having active or null alleles. Behav. Genet. 11: 195–208.
Gilbert D. G. & Richmond A. C., 1982. Esterase 6 in Drosophila melanogaster. Reproductive function of active and null males at low temperature. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79: 2962–2966.
Hadeler K. P. & Liberman U., 1975. Selection models with fertility differences. J. Math. Biol. 2: 19–32.
Kirpichnikov V. S. & Muske G. A., 1980. The adaptive value of biochemical polymorphisms in animal and plant populations. Genetica 52/53: 183–193.
Knoppien P., Pot W. & Van Delden W., 1980. Effects of rearing conditions and age on the difference in mating success between alcohol dehydrogenase genotypes of Drosophila melanogaster. Genetica 51(3): 197–202.
Laurie-Ahlberg C. C. & Weir B. S., 1979. Allozymic variation and linkage disequilibrium in some laboratory populations of Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 92: 1295–1314.
Marinkovié D. & Ayala F. J., 1975a. Fitness of allozyme variants in Drosophila pseudoobscura. I. Selection at the Pgm-1 and MC-2 loci. Genetics 79: 85–95.
Marinkovié D. & Ayala F. J., 1975b. Fitness of allozyme variants of Drosophila pseudoobscura. II. Selection at the Est-5, Odh and Mdh-2 loci. Genet. Res. Camb. 24: 137–149.
Maynard Smith J., 1956. Fertility, mating behavior and sexual selection in Drosophila subscura. J. Genet. 54: 261–279.
McKenzie J. A. & Fegent J. C., 1980. Mating patterns of virgin and inseminated Drosophila melanogaster of different alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) genotypes. Experientia 36: 1160–1161.
Milkman R. D., 1966. Heterosis as a major cause of heterozygosity in nature. Genetics 55: 493–495.
Petit, C. & Ehrman, L., 1969. Sexual selection in Drosophila. In: Evolutionary Biology, Vol. 3, ed. by Dobzhansky, Hecht & Steere, pp. 177–223. Meredith Corp.
Petit C., Kitagawa O., Takanashi E. & Mouaud D., 1980. The failure to obtain sexual isolation by artificial selection. Genetica 54: 213–219.
Pot W., Van Delden W. & Kruijt J. P., 1980. Genotypic differences in mating success and the maintenance of the alcohol dehydrogenase polymorphism in Drosophila melanogaster: No evidence for overdominance or rare genotype mating advantage. Behav. Genet. 10(1): 43–58.
Serradilla J. M. & Ayala F. J., 1983. Alloprocoptic selection: A mode of natural selection promoting polymorphism. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80: 2022–2025.
Sokal R. R. & Rohlf F. J., 1969. Biometry. Freeman & Co., San Francisco.
Sved J. & Ayala F. J., 1970. A population cage test for heterosis in Drosophila pseudoobscura. Genetics 66: 97–113.
Tosić M. & Ayala F. J., 1981. Density-and frequency-dependent selection at the Mdh-2 locus in Drosophila pseudoobscura. Genetics 97: 679–701.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Research supported by grant GM 22221 from the U.S. Public Health Service (NIH) and by Contract PA 200-14 Mod #4 with the U.S. Department of Energy. JMS was recipient of a fellowship from the Cultural Cooperative Program between the U.S. and Spain.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Serradilla, J.M., Ayala, F.J. Effects of allozyme variation on fitness components in Drosophila melanogaster . Genetica 62, 139–146 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00116635
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00116635