Linkage Group Analysis of Carboxylesterase in a Malathion Resistant Strain of the Housefly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera : Muscidae)

The Wakamatsu-m strain of housefly was established from a colony collected in Kitakyushu, Japan, and selected for 18 successive generations with malathion. This strain possesses high malathion carboxylesterase activity, high glutathione S-transferase activity and insensitive acetylcholinesterase, as the mechanisms of resistance. The linkage group of the dominant factor controlling malathion carboxylesterase activity was analyzed by the FX1 male backcross method using two susceptible visible marker strains. Malathion carboxylesterase activity was estimated with X14C-malathion as a substrate. Results of the crossing experiments clearly showed that only the 2nd chromosome was associated with a dominant factor controlling malathion carboxylesterase activity and the other four autosomes did not show any dominant effect on malathion carboxylesterase. These crossing experiments also revealed that the male determining factor, M, was located on the 5th chromosome in Wakamatsu-m strain.