Inheritance of female mating propensities foryellowlocus genotypes inDrosophila melanogaster

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Females from different wild-type laboratory populations ofDrosophila melanogasterdiffer genotypically in their degree of mating discrimination against mutantyellowmales. The chromosomal organization of this difference was examined in two wild-type laboratory strains by experimental observation of the mating propensities of hybrid females in a mass-mating, multiple choice situation. The results indicate that the strain difference is polygenic in origin, involving loci on both theX-chromosome and autosomes. Reciprocal crosses revealed no maternal/cytoplasmic effects. The mating scores of parental, F1and backcross females fit well to a model of additive chromosomal effects, withX-linked loci being recessive, and autosomal loci overdominant, for increased mating withyellowmales. However, interactions, arising most probably from recombination, led to increased mating withyellowon the part of F2females. In addition to the difference in female discrimination againstyellowmales, male/female interaction was found for the mating speed of flies from the two strains. These results are discussed in the light of previous studies of mating preferences inD. melanogaster. It is suggested that genetic variation in female mating preferences may be an important source of variation in the reported mating success of mutantyellowmales.