In the existing genetic sexing strains for the medfly, Ceratitis capitata, male recombination leads to breakdown of the sexing mechanism under mass rearing conditions. The rate of breakdown depends on the recombination frequency and on the fitness of the recombinants. We have tested two different sexing genes, white pupa and a temperature sensitive lethal, in combination with the translocation T(Y;5)30C. Both sexing strains broke down, although at very different rates. In the case of the white pupa strain, 3.5% recombinants were observed after rearing the strain for 15 generations. The second strain, utilizing white pupa and the temperature sensitive lethal as selectable markers, already reached a comparable level after six generations and was broken down completely in the ninth generation. In these strains the frequency of recombination is high because the breakpoint of T(Y;5)30C and the sexing gene(s) are far apart. To remedy the situation, we have isolated four new translocations with breakpoints located closer to the sexing genes. Mass rearing was simulated for several generations with strains based on these translocations and no breakdown was observed under the conditions used.

Polytene chromosomes of three genetic sexing strains of Ceratitis capitata were analyzed. The genetic sexing mechanism is based on a pupal color dimorphism (white-brown) and is the result of a reciprocal translocation between the Y chromosome and the autosome bearing the w locus (white pupal case). The analyzed polytene chromosomes were derived from two different pupal tissues, the orbital bristle and fat body cells. The Y chromosome is visible in both tissues, while the autosomes present a different banding pattern. Based on these features, the autosome breakpoints in the three Y; autosome translocations were mapped, and the homology of the translocated autosome in both tissues was established. In addition, the location of the break-points was compared to the stability of these three strains.

Before the Sterile Insect Technique can be applied successfully, the size of the target population has to be reduced to a manageable level. At present this reduction is achieved by the use of insecticides. Computer simulations have been performed to examine the possibility of achieving this initial population suppression by genetic control strategies; in particular, the effect of releasing fertile males carrying a recessive temperature-sensitive lethal mutation and a Y-autosome translocation has been simulated. The results show that the release of such males is most effective when applied under permissive conditions, i.e. those which allow flies homozygous for the temperature-sensitive lethal mutation to survive and spread the mutation through the population. However, combining this population replacement with a population-suppression strategy is even more effective. If the released males are partially sterile, e.g. due to the presence of a Y-autosome translocation, the population size is reduced before the restrictive conditions for the temperature-sensitive lethal mutation are reached, i.e. before the increase of temperatures in the target area eliminates all flies homozygous for this mutation. By combining these two strategies the resulting population should be low enough to apply the Sterile Insect Technique for eradication.

Radiation-induced translocations in the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, linking the Y chromosome to either autosome 3 or 4 produced pseudolinkage between sex and the mutations dark pupa (dp) and apricot eye (ap), respectively. The genetic behaviour of six new strains is described and the structural basis of five of them is determined through analysis of polytene and mitotic chromosomes. Five strains exhibited low levels of recombination; however, one strain produced a larger number than expected of aberrant, wild-type females. We provide evidence that this is the consequence of the survival of adjacent-1 segregation products until adulthood.Key words: medfly, mass rearing, genetic sexing, recombination, segregation.

ZACHAROPOULOU, A., BOURTZIS, K., and KERREMANS, PH. 1991. A comparison of polytene chromosomes in salivary glands and orbital bristle trichogen cells in Ceratitis capitata. Genome, 34: 215-219. The banding patterns of polytene chromosomes in different tissues of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, vary to such an extent that homologous chromosomes cannot be recognised. However, analyses of autosomal breakpoints in several translocation strains allowed chromosomes from the two tissues to be aligned despite their difference in banding pattern. These results were discussed, considering the different hypotheses of the origin and biological significance of polytene chromosome bands. A comparison of polytene chromosomes in salivary glands and orbital bristle trichogen cells in Ceratitis capitata. Genome, 34 : 215-219.Les profils de bandes des chromosomes polytknes de differents tissus de la mouche a fruit mediterraneenne, le Ceratitis capitata, varient a un point tel que les chromosomes homologues ne peuvent Etre distingues. Toutefois, des analyses des points de bris autosomiques chez plusieurs souches de translocation ont permis d'aligner les chromosomes de deux tissus, malgre leurs differences dans les profils de bandes. Ces resultats sont discutes a la lumikre d'hypothkses differentes sur l'origine et la signification biologique des bandes des chromosomes polytknes.