Summary
A model was developed which corrects and extends an earlier one proposed for the control of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), through hybrid male sterility. Population suppression is effected through the release into natural populations of the backcross progeny of a hybrid between H. virescens and a related species. Thereafter, the system perpetuates itself in nature through continual backcrossing of the fertile backcross females to native H. virescens males. When the proportion of backcross hybrid females in the total population is large enough to draw off the insemination potential of the native males, the native females fail to replace themselves. The present model demonstrated that the ratio of released backcross hybrids to natural H. virescens remains constant in a closed population. Furthermore it was shown that the release ratio necessary to achieve extinction of a closed population is related to the number of females that a male can inseminate and to the population growth rate. Release ratios required to slow natural population growth and to lessen the impact damage of releases on crop plants were also examined. Effects of selection against the backcross females on the predictions of the model were explored.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature
Gassner, G.; Proshold, F.I.: Immunological identification of lepidopteran hybrid progeny and parents. Genetics 88, 30–31 (1978)
Hartstack, A.W., Witz, J.A.; Hollingsworth, J.P.; Ridgway, R.L.; Lopez, J.D.: MOTHZV-2: A computer simulation of Heliothis zea and Heliothis virescens population dynamics: Users Manual. Agricultural Research Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture. ARS-S-127 1976
Karpenko, C.P., Proshold, F.I.: Fertility and mating performance of interspecific crosses between Heliothis virescens and H. subflexa backcrossed for three generations to H. subflexa. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 70, 737–740 (1977)
Laster, M.L.: Interspecific hybridization of Heliothis virescens and H. subflexa. Environ. Entomol. 1, 682–687 (1972)
Laster, M.L.; Martin, D.F.; Parvin, D.W., Jr.: Potential for suppressing tobacco budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) by genetic sterilization. Miss. Agr. and For. Exp. Sta., Tech. Bull. No. 82, 9 pp. (1976)
Laster, M.L.; Martin, D.F.; Pair, S.D.: Mating incidence of male Heliothis virescens, hybrid and backcross males from H. subflexa and H. virescens crosses. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 70, 293–295 (1977)
Laster, M.L.; Martin, D.F.; Pair, S.D.: The attraction of wild Heliothis virescens males to sex phenomone traps baited with H. virescens and backcross females. Environ. Entomol. 7, 19–20 (1978)
Pair, S.D.; Laster, M.L.; Martin, D.F.: Hybrid sterility mating dynamics of backcross progeny from crosses of Heliothis subflexa and H. virescens. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 70, 665–668 (1977a)
Pair, S.D.; Laster, M.L., Martin, D.F.: Hybrid sterility of the tobacco budworm: effects of alternate sterile and normal matings on fecundity and fertility. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 70, 952–954 (1977b)
Parvin, D.W.; Jr.; Laster, M.L.; Martin, D.F.: A computer program for simulating the theoretical suppression of the tobacco budworm by genetic sterilization. Miss. Agri. and For. Exp. Sta., Dept. of Agri. Econ. Staff Papers Series, 18 pp. 1976
Proshold, F.I.; LaChance, L.E.: Analysis of sterility in hybrids from interspecific crosses between Heliothis virescens and H. subflexa. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 67, 445–449 (1974)
Proshold, F.I.; LaChance, L.E.; Richard, R.D.: Sperm production and transfer by Heliothis virescens, H. subflexa, and the sterile hybrid males. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 68, 31–34 (1975)
Raulston, J.R.; Snow, J.W.; Graham, H.M.; Lingren, P.D.: Tobacco Budworm: effect of prior mating and sperm content on the mating behavior of females. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 68, 701–704 (1975)
Raulston, J.R.; Lingren, P.D.; Sparks, A.N.; Martin, D.F.: Mating interaction between native tobacco budworms and released hybrids. Environ. Entomol. (in press)
Richard, R.D.; LaChance, L.E.; Proshold, F.I.: An ultrastructural study of sperm in sterile hybrids from crosses of Heliothis virescens and Heliothis subflexa. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 68, 35–39 (1975)
Wiedhaas, D.E.: Field development and evaluation of chemosterilants. in: Principles of Insect Chemosterilization eds. LaBrecque, G.C.; Smith, C.N., pp. 275–314. New York: Appleton-Century-Croft 1968
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by R.W. Allard
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Makela, M.E., Huettel, M.D. Model for genetic control of Heliothis virescens . Theoret. Appl. Genetics 54, 225–233 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00267712
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00267712