Genetic evidence for linkage with the Z and W sex chromosomes of two distinct couples of alleles controlling larval and postmetamorphic skin pigmentation in salamander

In Pleurodeles waltl, progeny resulting from a cross between 2 individuals of the Z/W sexual genotype include 25% of W/W individuals, while those issued from crossing a Z/W neomale with a W/W thelygenous female include 50% of W/W individuals. W/W individuals can be identified through the peptidase-1 zymogram since, in P. waltl, this enzyme is controlled by codominant alleles which are linked to the sex chromosomes. In such progeny, we discovered 2 mutant phenotypes affecting larval and postmetamorphic skin pigmentation in W/W individuals. These phenotypes are described herein. The study of their inheritance in several offspring provides evidence that they are controlled by 2 distinct genes, the recessive mutant alleles of which are linked to the W sex chromosome; moreover, in thelygenous W/W females, the differential segment does not prevent the occurrence of meiotic recombinations between W sex chromosomes. Mutant skin pigmentary phenotypes are easily identified and constitute a tool for rapid, efficient selection of individuals of the W/W sexual genotype.