Identification of QTLs for Yield and Associated Traits in F₂ Population of Rice

Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling yield and yield-related traits in rice was performed in the F₂ mapping population derived from parental rice genotypes DHMAS and K343. A total of 30 QTLs governing nine different traits were identified using the composite interval mapping (CIM) method. Four QTLs were mapped for number of tillers per plant on chromosomes 1 (2 QTLs), 2 and 3; three QTLs for panicle number per plant on chromosomes 1 (2 QTLs) and 3; four QTLs for plant height on chromosomes 2, 4, 5 and 6; one QTL for spikelet density on chromosome 5; four QTLs for spikelet fertility percentage (SFP) on chromosomes 2, 3 and 5 (2 QTLs); two QTLs for grain length on chromosomes 1 and 8; three QTLs for grain width on chromosomes1, 3 and 8; three QTLs for 1000-grain weight (TGW) on chromosomes 1, 4 and 8 and six QTLs for yield per plant (YPP) on chromosomes 2 (3 QTLs), 4, 6 and 8. Most of the QTLs were detected on chromosome 2, so further studies on chromosome 2 could help unlock some new chapters of QTL for this cross of rice variety. Identified QTLs elucidating high phenotypic variance can be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding. Further, the exploitation of information regarding molecular markers tightly linked to QTLs governing these traits will facilitate future crop improvement strategies in rice.     

Arthropods as Bioindicators in Agroecosystems of Jiang Han Plain,Qianjiang City,Hubei China

Using sweeping nets and pitfall traps, arthropods on the soil surface and on vegetation were periodically surveyed in two villages on the Jiang Han Plain from April to September 1994. Statistical analysis of the resulting data delineated groups of bioindicators on vegetation and on the grounds that represent components of formulas for evaluating environmental quality in agroecosystems. These groups are (1) Coccinellidae and Chrysopidae (seasonally migrating predators factor); (2) Braconidae and Chalcidoidea (parasitic insects factor); (3) Araneae and Mantodea on vegetation and Araneae, Carabidae, Opiliones and Nitidulidae on the ground (carnivorous arthropods factor); and (4) Formicidae, Isopoda, and Chilopoda (soil-dwelling arthropods factor). The following resource pools were identified for the different model arthropods: woodlots for Araneae and Mantodea; field margins for Chrysopidae and Coccinellidae; hedgerows for Braconidae and Chalcidoidea; and low-input cropfields on the floodplains for epigeic carnivorous arthropods. Comparison of these insect groups in different rural landscape units demonstrated the importance of a mosaic rural landscape, including woodlots, rationally designed field margins, and cropland, for creating an ecologically favorable agricultural environment.     

Comparative biogeography of mammals on islands

Insular faunas of terrestrial mammals and bats are examined on a worldwide basis to test the adequacy of equilibrium and historical legacy models as explanations for species-area relationships. Species numbers of bats on islands conform to predictions from equilibrium theory, whereby recurrent immigrations and extinctions influence species richness. By contrast, species numbers of terrestrial mammals on islands result from a historical legacy of very low immigration rates on oceanic islands (the faunas are colonization-limited) and by the fragmentation of once contiguous continental faunas to form relictual populations, which subsequently undergo extinctions, on landbridge islands (the faunas are extinction-limited). This explanation is supported by several lines of evidence: (1) z values (slopes of species-area curves) are lower for non-volant mammals on oceanic islands than for those on landbridge islands, but are the opposite for bats; (2) z values for non-volant mammals are lower than those for bats on oceanic islands, but are higher than those for bats on landbridge islands; and (3) landbridge island faunas are attenuated mainland faunas, whereas those on oceanic islands are ecologically incomplete. No support is found for alternative hypotheses to explain low species-area slopes for terrestrial mammals on oceanic islands.     

The inheritance of fingerprint patterns.

Analysis of the fingerprints of 571 members of the Habbanite isolate suggest inherited patterns and pattern sequences. A genetic theory has been developed; it assumes that the basic fingerprint pattern sequence is all ulnar loops and that a variety of genes cause deviations from this pattern sequence. Genes that have been proposed include: (1) a semidominant gene for whorls on the thumbs (one homozygote has whorls on both thumbs, the other has ulnar loops on both thumbs and the heterozygote usually has two ulnar loops or one ulnar loop and one whorl); (2) a semidominant gene for whorls on the ring fingers which acts like the gene for whorls on the thumbs; (3) a dominant gene for arches on the thumbs and often on other fingers; (4) one or more dominant genes for arches on the fingers; (5) a dominant gene for whorls on all fingers except for an ulnar loop on the middle finger; (6) a dominant gene for radial loops on the index fingers, frequently associated with an arch on the middle fingers; and (7) a recessive gene for radial loops on the ring and little fingers. These genes may act independently or may show epistasis.     

An Approach for Incorporating Information on Chemical Availability in Soils into Risk Assessment and Risk-Based Decision Making,Prepared by: The New England Environmentally Acceptable Endpoints Workgroup

A regional workgroup comprised of individuals from regulatory agencies, uni versities, and consulting companies was formed to develop an approach for incor porating information on chemical availability in soils into risk assessment and risk based decision making. The approach consists of the following decision framework for including information on chemical availability: (1) Determine the usefulness of incorporating information on bioavailability; (2) Identify information needs from a conceptual model of exposure for the site and from exposure pathways judged critical to the assessment; (3) Identify soil factors that affect bioavailability; (4) Determine the type or form of information (measures and/or models) that can be used within the risk assessment and risk management process; (5) Select methods (measures and/or models) based on the “weight of evidence” or strength of the bioavailability information they will provide and how that information will be used for risk assessment and risk based decision making; (6) Incorporate information into the risk assessment and risk based decision making. These fac tors can be integrated into existing risk based approaches for site management such as Superfund, state approaches, and the ASTM Risk Based Corrective Action Process (RBCA). Consistent with risk assessment guidance, an assessment of chemical availability in soils must consider current as well as reasonably foresee able conditions. The approach recognizes that information on chemical availabil ity is contextual and depends on the receptor and pathway. Further, the value of information depends on how well it is accepted and/or validated for use in regulatory decision making. The workgroup identified four principles for select ing methods (measures and/or models) for obtaining information on chemical availability and for evaluating information on chemical availability for use in risk assessments: (1) soil chemical relevance, (2) pathway relevance, (3) receptor relevance, and (4) acceptance of the method.     

Comparative study of QTLs for agronomic traits of riceOriza sativa L.) between salt stress and nonstress environment

Genotype-by-environment interactions (GxE) are commonly observed for quantitative traits. In the present study, a doubled haploid (DH) population and its genetic linkage map were used to comparatively study QTLs in salt stress and nonstress environments. A total of 24 QTLs were detected for five agronomic traits, which were distributed on all the chromosomes except 9 and 11. Under the salt stress, nine (37.5%) QTLs were detected, including one for 1 000-grain weight (GW), two for heading date (HD), one for plant height (PH), two for grains per panicle (GPP), and three for effective tillers (ET), while in the nonstress environment, 17 QTLs (70.8%) were detected, including five for GW, six for HD, three for PH, two for GPP, and one for ET. Two QTLs (8.3%) were consistently detected in both environments. One was identified on chromosome 4 for HD and the other on Chr.6 for GPP. Furthermore, three regions carrying multiple QTLs were identified on chromosomes 1, 4 and 8 respectively. For example, on chromosome 8, three QTLs for HD, GW and PH, respectively were identified between RG885-GA408 in nonstress environment, but not in the stress environment. The comparative study of QTLs detected in extremely different (salt stress and nonstress) environments revealed that there existed several QTLs for important agronomic traits on chromosome 8 which were affected significantly by salt stress.     

Comparative study of QTLs for agronomic traits of riceOriza sativa L.) between salt stress and nonstress environment

Genotype-by-environment interactions (GxE) are commonly observed for quantitative traits. In the present study, a doubled haploid (DH) population and its genetic linkage map were used to comparatively study QTLs in salt stress and nonstress environments. A total of 24 QTLs were detected for five agronomic traits, which were distributed on all the chromosomes except 9 and 11. Under the salt stress, nine (37.5%) QTLs were detected, including one for 1 000-grain weight (GW), two for heading date (HD), one for plant height (PH), two for grains per panicle (GPP), and three for effective tillers (ET), while in the nonstress environment, 17 QTLs (70.8%) were detected, including five for GW, six for HD, three for PH, two for GPP, and one for ET. Two QTLs (8.3%) were consistently detected in both environments. One was identified on chromosome 4 for HD and the other on Chr.6 for GPP. Furthermore, three regions carrying multiple QTLs were identified on chromosomes 1, 4 and 8 respectively. For example, on chromosome 8, three QTLs for HD, GW and PH, respectively were identified between RG885-GA408 in nonstress environment, but not in the stress environment. The comparative study of QTLs detected in extremely different (salt stress and nonstress) environments revealed that there existed several QTLs for important agronomic traits on chromosome 8 which were affected significantly by salt stress.     

Comparative study of QTLs for agronomic traits of rice (Oriza sativa L.) between salt stress and nonstress environment

Genotype-by-environment interactions (GxE) are commonly observed for quantitative traits. In the present study, a doubled haploid (DH) population and its genetic linkage map were used to comparatively study QTLs in salt stress and nonstress environments. A total of 24 QTLs were detected for five agronomic traits, which were distributed on all the chromosomes except 9 and 11. Under the salt stress, nine (37.5%) QTLs were detected, including one for 1 000-grain weight (GW), two for heading date (HD), one for plant height (PH), two for grains per panicle (GPP), and three for effective tillers (ET), while in the nonstress environment, 17 QTLs (70.8%) were detected, including five for GW, six for HD, three for PH, two for GPP, and one for ET. Two QTLs (8.3%) were consistently detected in both environments. One was identified on chromosome 4 for HD and the other on Chr.6 for GPP. Furthermore, three regions carrying multiple QTLs were identified on chromosomes 1, 4 and 8 respectively. For example, on chromosome     

Quantitative Trait Loci for Metabolic Syndrome in the Hypertension Genetic Epidemiology Network Study

As part of the Hypertension Genetic Epidemiology Network study, genome scans were performed in two ethnicities on the categorical metabolic syndrome (MetS). Genome scans were performed also on the factor scores produced by factor analysis (quantitative MetS). Heritabilities were highest for the obesity‐insulin (INS) factor and lowest for blood pressure (BP) and central obesity. Seventeen unique putative quantitative trait loci (QTLs) yielded logarithm of the odds ratio (LOD) scores in excess of 1.7, 8 for blacks and 9 for whites. Important QTL findings in whites included an LOD score of 3.19 on chromosome 15q15 for the BP factor, 3.08 on chromosome 8p23 for the lipids‐INS factor, and 3.07 on chromosome 3p26 for the obesity‐INS factor. In blacks, after excluding type 2 diabetics, important QTLs were identified, including an LOD score of 2.77 on 13p12 for the obesity‐INS factor and 2.63 on chromosome 11q24 for the lipids‐INS factor. Categorical MetS had lower results than quantitative MetS. Notably, several loci identified overlap with those identified in other studies for a single or group of traits. The most promising candidate loci on 11q24 for lipids‐INS and 13p12 for obesity‐INS in blacks, 8p23 for lipids‐INS, 14q24 for obesity‐INS, and 15q15 for BP in whites warrant further investigation.     

Assay and screening methods for bioactive substances based on cellular signaling pathways

Assay and screening methods for bioactive substances based on cellular signaling pathways are presented. Examples include: (1) intracellular protein phosphorylation and protein-protein interaction, (1-i) a new assay method for evaluating chemical selectivity of agonists for insulin signaling pathways based on agonist-induced phosphorylation of a target peptide, (1-ii) an SPR-based screening method for agonist selectivity for insulin signaling pathways based on the binding of phosphotyrosine to its specific binding protein, (1-iii) a fluorescent indicator for tyrosine phosphorylation-based insulin signaling pathways, and (1-iv) split luciferase as an optical probe for detecting protein-protein interactions in mammalian cells based on protein splicing; (2) a screening method for antigen-specific IgE using mast cells based on intracellular calcium signaling; (3) a screening method for substrates of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP); and (4) fluorescent indicators for cyclic GMP based on cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase Ialpha and green fluorescent proteins.     

Short rotation coppice as alternative land use for Chernobyl-contaminated areas of Belarus

Field experiments were conducted in the Chernobyl-affected area to assess if short rotation coppice (SRC) for energy production is a feasible alternative for contaminated land. Four willow clones were planted on sandy and peaty soil and the radiocaesium (137Cs) and radiostrontium (90Sr) transfer factors (TF) and yield relevant parameters were recorded during four growing seasons. The 137Cs and 90Sr soil-to-willow wood TF on sandy soil (second growing season) were on average 1.40+/-1.06 x 10(-3) m2 kg(-1) and 130+/-74 x 10(-3) m2 kg(-1), respectively. The 137Cs TF recorded for the peaty soil (fourth growing season or end of the first rotation cycle) was on average 5.17+/-1.59 x 10(-3) m2 kg(-1). The 90Sr-TF was on average 2.61+/-0.44 x 10(-3) m2 kg(-1). No significant differences between clones for the 137Cs and 90Sr-TF were observed. Given the high TFs and the high deposition levels, Belarus exemption levels for fuel wood were highly exceeded. The annual average biomass production for one rotation cycle on the peaty soil ranged from 7.8 to 16.0 t ha(-1) y(-1) for one of the clones, comparable with average annual yield figures obtained for western Europe. On the sandy soils, first-year yields were 0.25 t ha(-1) y(-1). These soils are not suitable for SRC production and should better be dedicated to pine forests or drought-resistant grasses.     

Confirmation of quantitative trait loci affecting fatness in chickens

In this report we describe the analysis of an advanced intercross line (AIL) to confirm the quantitative trait locus (QTL) regions found for fatness traits in a previous study. QTL analysis was performed on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 15, 18, and 27. The AIL was created by random intercrossing in each generation from generation 2 (G₂) onwards until generation 9 (G₉) was reached. QTL for abdominal fat weight (AFW) and/or percentage abdominal fat (AF%) on chromosomes 1, 3 and 27 were confirmed in the G₉ population. In addition, evidence for QTL for body weight at the age of 5 (BW5) and 7 (BW7) weeks and for the percentage of intramuscular fat (IF%) were found on chromosomes 1, 3, 15, and 27. Significant evidence for QTL was detected on chromosome 1 for BW5 and BW7. Suggestive evidence was found on chromosome 1 for AFW, AF% and IF%, on chromosome 15 for BW5, and on chromosome 27 for AF% and IF%. Furthermore, evidence on the chromosome-wise level was found on chromosome 3 for AFW, AF%, and BW7 and on chromosome 27 for BW5. For chromosomes 4 and 18, test statistics did not exceed the significance threshold.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci for growth and carcass composition in cattle

A genomic screening to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting growth, carcass composition and meat quality traits was pursued. Two hundred nineteen microsatellite markers were genotyped on 176 of 620 (28%) progeny from a Brahman x Angus sire mated to mostly MARC III dams. Selective genotyping, based on retail product yield (%) and fat yield (%), was used to select individuals to be genotyped. Traits included in the study were birth weight (kg), hot carcass weight (kg), retail product yield, fat yield, marbling score (400 = slight00 and 500 = small00), USDA yield grade, and estimated kidney, heart and pelvic fat (%). The QTL were classified as significant when the expected number of false positives (ENFP) was less than 0.05 (F-statistic greater than 17.3), and suggestive when the ENFP was <1 (F-statistic between 10.2 and 17.3). A significant QTL (F = 19; ENFP = 0.02) was detected for marbling score at centimorgan (cM) 54 on chromosome 2. Suggestive QTL were detected for fat yield at 50 cM, for retail product yield at 53 cM, and for USDA yield grade at 63 cM on chromosome 1, for marbling score at 56 cM, for retail product yield at 70 cM, and for estimated kidney, heart and pelvic fat at 79 cM on chromosome 3, for marbling score at 44 cM, for hot carcass weight at 49 cM, and for estimated kidney, heart and pelvic fat at 62 cM on chromosome 16, and for fat yield at 35 cM on chromosome 17. Two suggestive QTL for birth weight were identified, one at 12 cM on chromosome 20 and the other at 56 cM on chromosome 21. An additional suggestive QTL was detected for retail product yield, for fat yield, and for USDA yield grade at 26 cM on chromosome 26. Results presented here represent the initial search for quantitative trait loci in this family. Validation of detected QTL in other populations will be necessary.     

水稻穗颈维管束及穗部性状的QTL分析

以籼稻 (OryzasativaL .ssp .indicaZYQ8)和粳稻 (O .sativassp .japonicaJX17)的杂交F1代花培加倍的DH群体为材料考察了该群体的穗颈节大小维管束数、一次枝梗数、每穗颖花数、穗颈节顶部直径和穗长 ,并用该群体构建的分子图谱进行数量性状座位 (QTL)分析。检测到控制大维管束的 3个QTL (qLVB_1、qLVB_6和qLVB_7)分别位于第 1、第 6和第 7染色体 ;控制小维管束的 2个QTL (qSVB_4和qSVB_6 )分别位于第 4和第 6染色体 ;控制一次枝梗的 4个QTL (qPRB_4a、qPRB_4b、qPRB_6和qPRB_7)分别位于第 4(2个 )、第 6和第 7染色体 ;每穗颖花数的 3个QTL (qSPN_4a、qSPN_4b和qSPN_6 )分别位于第 4(2个 )和第 6染色体上 ;穗颈节顶部直径的 5个QTL (qPTD_2、qPTD_5、qPTD_6、qPTD_8和qPTD_12 )分别位于第 2、第 5、第 6、第 8和第 12染色体 ;穗长的 3个QTL (qPL_4、qPL_6和qPL_8)分别位于第 4、第 6、第 8染色体上。其中qLVB_6、qSVB_6、qSPN_6、qPTD_6和qPL_6均位于第 6染色体的G12 2_G1314b之间 ;qPL_8和qPTD_8位于第 8染色体的GA40 8_BP12 7a之间 ;qPRB_4a和qSPN_4a位于第 4染色体的G177_CT2 0 6之间 ;qPL_4和qSPN_4b位于第 4染色体CT40 4_CT5 0 0之间 ;qSVB_4所在的区间与qPL_4、qSPN_4b和qPRB_4b所在的区间相邻。     

六盘山叠叠沟小流域典型坡面土壤水分的植被承载力

确定土壤水分的植被承载力是我国北方半干旱地区合理调控土壤水分和植被生长关系、科学恢复林草植被的核心问题。我国北方半干旱地区的土壤水分主要来自大气降水, 作为土壤水分限制型生态系统的坡面植被, 植物种类和植被密度等结构特征与降水量紧密相关。根据六盘山石质山区的特点, 基于水量平衡原理, 建立了阴坡华北落叶松(Larix principis-rupprechti)和阳坡草地的土壤水分植被承载力数学模型, 即由4~10月的生长季降雨量(P)计算得到可承载的叶面积指数(Leaf area index, LAI)公式: LAI_tree= exp((0.773 1×P-186.12)/146.46)和LAI_grass= exp((0.511 2×P-345.93)/227.89), 并提出了考虑坡面水分再分配影响的不同坡位的土壤水分植被承载力计算方法。阴坡华北落叶松的植被承载力(用LAI表示)从坡顶的1.45升高到坡中的4.83, 然后稳定在3.0~3.3。对于阳坡草地, 土壤水分可承载的LAI从坡顶的0.37上升到坡中的0.46, 然后在0.41~0.47之间变动, LAI的计算值与实测值较为接近, 计算结果比较合理。     

Demonstration of 2 phosphate transport systems in Candida tropicalis]

Candida tropicalis has two phosphate transport systems, one of which is constitutive and has a low affinity for its substrate (Kmapp 1.2.10(-3) M). The other one characterized by a high affinity for H2PO4- (Kmapp = 4.5.10(-6) M) appears only under phosphate starvation conditions. The regulation of the latter would act on the one hand on the synthesis of binding proteins for P1 (repression-derepression) and on the other on the activation or inactivation of the carriers.     

Detection of quantitative trait loci for meat quality traits in cattle

A whole-genome scan was carried out to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting sensory, organoleptic, physical and chemical properties of meat. The study used phenotypic data from 235 second-generation cross-bred bull calves of a Charolais × Holstein experimental population. Loin muscle samples were evaluated for yield force, intramuscular fat and nitrogen contents, myofibrillar fragmentation index, haem pigment concentration, moisture content and pH at 24 h postmortem. A sensory assessment was performed on grilled loin and roasted silverside joints by trained panellists. A linear regression analysis based on 165 markers revealed 35 QTL at the 5% chromosome-wide significance level (20 for sensory traits and 15 for physical and chemical traits), five of which were highly significant ( F -value: ≥9). The most significant QTL was located on chromosome 6 (with the best likely position at 39 cM) and affected haem pigment concentration. The Holstein allele for this QTL was associated with an increase of 0.53 SD in the haem scores. A QTL for pH_24h was identified on chromosome 14 (at 40 cM) and a QTL for moisture content was identified on chromosome 22 (at 21 cM). Two highly significant QTL were identified for sensory panel-assessed traits: beef odour intensity (grilled sample) on chromosome 10 (at 119 cM), and juiciness (roast sample) on chromosome 16 (at 70 cM). The proportion of phenotypic variance explained by the significant QTL ranged from 3.6% (for nitrogen content on chromosome 10) to 9.5% (for juiciness, roast sample on chromosome 16).     

A sex-specific tri-trophic-level effect in a phoretic association

Hemisarcoptes coccophagus (Acari: Astigmata: Hemisarcoptidae) is an obligate parasite of armored-scale insects (Homoptera: Diaspididae). Hypopodes (non-feeding heteromorphic deutonymphs) of this mite cannot complete their development without a phoretic sojourn on the coccinellid beetle Chilocorus bipustulatus. We tested whether the feeding history of the beetles affects the probability of the hypopodes completing their development. Two diets were offered: armored-scale insects (Homoptera: Diaspididae) (suitable for both beetles and mites) and soft-scale insects (Homoptera: Coccidae) (suitable for the beetles but not for the mites). The hypopodial survival was similar for mites which had been on beetles reared on the different scales. However, female hypopodes which had stayed on beetles reared on soft scales suffered higher mortality than those from Chilocorus reared on armored scales. Male survival was not affected. A tri-trophic-level effect on sex-specific survival in a phoretic association was thus demonstrated.     

Detection of quantitative trait loci for teat number and female reproductive traits in Meishan × Large White F2 pigs

A quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of female reproductive data from a three-generation experimental cross between Meishan (MS) and Large White (LW) pig breeds is presented. Six F1 boars and 23 F1 sows, progeny of six LW boars and six MS sows, produced 573 F2 females and 530 F2 males. Six traits, i.e. teat number (TN), age at puberty (AP), ovulation rate (OR), weight at mating (WTM), number of viable embryos (NVE) and embryo survival (ES) at 30 days of gestation were analysed. Animals were genotyped for a total of 137 markers covering the entire porcine genome. Analyses were carried out based on interval mapping methods, using a line-cross (LC) regression and a half-full sib (HFS) maximum likelihood test. Genome-wide (GW) highly significant (P < 0.001) QTL were detected for WTM on SSC 7 and for AP on SSC 13. They explained, respectively, 14.5% and 8.9% of the trait phenotypic variance. Other GW significant (P < 0.05) QTL were detected for TN on SSC 3, 7, 8, 16 and 17, for OR on SSC 4 and 5, and for ES on SSC 9. Two additional chromosome-wide significant (P < 0.05) QTL were detected for TN, three for WTM, four for AP, three for OR, three for NVE and two for ES. With the exception of the two above-mentioned loci, the QTL explained from 1.2% to 4.6% of trait phenotypic variance. QTL alleles were in most cases not fixed in the grand-parental populations and Meishan alleles were not systematically associated with higher reproductive performance.     

Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci Affecting Life History Traits in the Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans

We have identified chromosomal regions containing quantitative trait loci (QTLs) specifying life history traits in recombinant-inbred strains of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. This approach also allows us to examine epistatic interactions between loci and pleiotropic effects on different traits at specific loci. QTLs for mean life span were identified on chromosomes II (near stP101), IV (stP5) and the X (stP61), and QTLs for fertility were identified on II (maP1), III (stP19) and IV (stP51). The QTLs for mean life span accounted for 90% of the genetic component of variance. The loci for mean fertility accounted for 88% of the genetic component of variance. Additional QTLs for temperature-sensitive fertility [II (stP36) and V (stP6)] and internal hatching [IV (stP5)] were also mapped in these crosses. We found evidence for epistatic effects on mean life span between maP1 and bP1 (V), and for epistatic effects on mean fertility between stP36 and stP6, between stP98 (II) and stP192 (V), between maP1 and stP127 (III), between maP1 and stP103 (X), and between stP5 and stP6. Negatively correlated, pleiotropic effects on mean life span and internal hatching were found linked to stP5.