REPRODUCTIVE CAPACITY IN THE GENUSCHORISTONEURALED. (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE). I. QUANTITATIVE INHERITANCE AND GENES AS CONTROLLERS OF RATES

Abstract

Environmental selection studies on Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.) have shown the presence of two different types of X chromosomes. One determines small egg size, high fecundity, large body size, slow development rate, and low environmental resistance; the other, large egg size, low fecunidity, small body size, rapid development rate, and high environmental resistance. A working hypothesis is proposed that these X chromosomes effect these various characteristics by determining different mitotic rates and consequently variations in the number and size of cells. A relatively constant autosomal gene system determines the rate of cell nutrition. Genetic aspects of population dynamics, relative to these findings, are discussed.