title: Estimation of maternal, sex-linked and additive x additive epistatic gene effects for body size of Tribolium.
abstract: The genetic structure of two quantitative traits, 13-day larval weight and pupal weight, in two unselected populations of Tribolium castaneum was investigated by the genetic model of Carbonell et al. (1983). The variability among two and three-way crosses was analyzed into components due to: general and specific combining abilities, maternal, sex-linkage, specific reciprocal and additive-by-additive epistasis. Also, indirect evidence of higher order epistasis was studied. It is concluded that the heterotic trait larval weight is highly affected by sex-linked genes and by non-additive gene action with additive-by-additive as well as higher order epistasis playing major roles. Pupal weight, on the other hand, is determined mostly by additive gene action although epistasis is also a significant source for genetic variability. Both traits are significantly influenced by maternal effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 47907, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Carbonell
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bell