Genetics and linkage of aldrin resistance in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.).

Abstract

The inheritance mechanism and linkage association of cyclodiene resistance were studied in 2 cyclodiene-resistant strains of the German cockroach. The resistant strains were crossed to each other, to an unmarked susceptible strain, and to 6 susceptible marker strains. The progeny from succeeding generations were tested for resistance to aldrin using a dipping method or a time-exposure method, and were examined for markers in linkage tests. The results show that cyclodiene resistance (R-Cyclo) is inherited as a simple autosomal semidominant trait which is allelic in the 2 resistant strains. Linkage studies indicate that R-Cyclo is independent of linkage groups II-VI, but is linked with the group VII trait curly wing at a distance of 3.4+/-1.0-6.2+/-1.4.