Analysis of 6 × 6 diallel cross for EGG production in Drosophila melanogaster

1. There is a considerable amount of interaction between the environment and the genetic factors controlling egg production InDrosophila melanogaster. 2. The genes affecting egg production exhibit both additive genetic effects and dominant deviations. They also show non-allelic interactions. The non-allelic interaction between G and D results in low egg production. 3. An asymmetry in the distribution of positive and negative allels exists in the parents, which was understandable as three of the six lines included in the trial were selected for low egg production and the other three for high egg production. 4. There are probably present more dominant than recessive genes affecting egg Production in the parental stock used in these studies; the ratio of recessives to dominants being of the order of 1:4. Low egg production is due to recessive genes, high egg production to their dominant allels. 5. Dominance deviations present were largely unidirectional. 6. The order of dominance of the six lines used was D, B, E, C, A, F