A single QTL with large effect is associated with female functional virginity in an asexual parasitoid wasp.

ABSTRACT: During the transition from sexual to asexual reproduction, a suite of reproduction-related sexual traits become superfluous, and may be selected against if costly. Female functional virginity refers to asexual females resisting to mate or not fertilizing eggs after mating. These traits appear to be among the first that evolve during transitions from sexual to asexual reproduction. The genetic basis of female functional virginity remains elusive. Previously, we reported that female functional virginity segregates as expected for a single recessive locus in the asexual parasitoid wasp Asobara japonica. Here, we investigate the genetic basis of this trait by quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and candidate gene analyses. Consistent with the segregation of phenotypes, we found a single QTL

SUBMITTER: Ma WJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8252104 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature