Hybrid Sterility of the Tobacco Budworm:1Effects of Alternate Sterile and Normal Matings on Fecundity and Fertility2

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Abstract
Fecundity and fertility of backcross (BC) generation females from crosses between female Heliothis subflexa (Guenee) and the tobacco budworm, H. virescens (F.) did not differ from fecundity and fertility of normal H. virescens females based on the response to sterile (S) matings with BC males and normal (N) matings with H. virescens males. The fertility of females mated N or receiving a final N mating (S→N) differed from those of females whose mating sequence was S, S→S, or N→S. Females mated S or S→S by BC males had lower rates of oviposition and produced infertile eggs because the males lacked eupyrene sperm. Females mated N→S produced a lower percentage of fertile eggs and percentage egg hatch was reduced 78%, indicating that displacement of viable eupyrene sperm had occurred. Thus, the final type of mating determined the extent of fertility of the females.