Genetic Differences and Conditioning in Tribolium castaneum

Abstract

Tribolium cultures of +/+, +/b, and b/b individuals, grown in flour previously conditioned by +/+ and b/b beetles, were compared with respect to survival, developmental period, adult weight, and fecundity. The effect of conditioned flour on a beetle is dependent not only on the genotype of the beetle living in the flour but also on the genetic constitution of the adults that conditioned the flour. The mutant beetles are more sensitive to smaller concentrations of conditioned flour than are the wild=type or heterozygote beetles. Flour conditioned by the mutant beetles produces a greater reduction in survivorship and a greater lengthening of the developmental period than does flour conditioned by the wild=type beetles. Increases in the proportion of conditioned flour causes a decrease in the weight of the beetles. The fecundity of the beetles is reduced when they are placed in conditioned flour. The fecundity of both wild-type and mutant beetles drops to a common asymptotic value.