Postlarval Fitness of Transgenic Strains of Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Eight transgenic strains of Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were compared with the wild-type parental laboratory strain (P95) in colony. Measurements of average weight of pupae, percentage of adults emerging from pupae, ratio of males to total emerged adults, and mating c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of economic entomology 2004-06, Vol.97 (3), p.1181-1185
Main Authors: Allen, Margaret L., Berkebile, Dennis R., Skoda, Steven R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Genetically Modified - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
body weight
Cochliomyia hominivorax
Control
Diptera - genetics
Diptera - growth & development
Diptera - physiology
eclosion
Female
fitness
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Generalities
genetic markers
green fluorescent protein
insect fitness
insect pests
Larva - growth & development
Male
mating competitiveness
mating frequency
New World screwworm
Pest Control, Biological - methods
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
Protozoa. Invertebrates
Pupa - growth & development
pupae
pupal development
sex ratio
sterile insect technique
strain differences
transgenic insect
transgenic insects
VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY
wild-type strains
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Summary:Eight transgenic strains of Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were compared with the wild-type parental laboratory strain (P95) in colony. Measurements of average weight of pupae, percentage of adults emerging from pupae, ratio of males to total emerged adults, and mating competitiveness were analyzed. The parental strain colony was subcultured and exposed to handling procedures equivalent to transgenic strains for valid comparison of overall colony fitness. None of the transgenic colonies exhibited significantly lower fitness characteristics than the control parental colony. One transgenic colony had a higher ratio of adults emerging from pupae, and five colonies had higher average pupal weight; because fitness cost would only be indicated by lower values, the statistical variations were not significant. Males of one transgenic strain were shown to mate with equal frequency compared with males of the parental strain. Hence, the presence of the transgene used to produce the strains tested did not incur a fitness cost to the colonies of laboratory-reared C. hominivorax.
ISSN:0022-0493
1938-291X
DOI:10.1603/0022-0493%282004%29097%5B1181%3APFOTSO%5D2.0.CO%3B2