MALE MATING SPEED IN DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER - DIFFERENCES IN GENETICARCHITECTURE AND IN RELATIVE PERFORMANCE ACCORDING TO FEMALE GENOTYPE

From a critical review of the literature on mating speed in Drosophila , the importance of fast mating in male fitness is questioned. The gen etic architecture of male mating speed (MMS) has been evaluated in D. melanogaster through a populational analysis and a full 5 x 5 diallel cross between inbred lines. The results emphasize the fundamental role of the female genotype in both the absolute and the relative MMS perf ormances. Somewhat different genetic architectures for MMS are reveale d according to the female used in the tests. It is suggested that diff erent parts of the complex genetic system involved in the male's ''beh avioral sexual phenotype'' are relevant depending on the female's char acteristics, thus causing the heterogeneity in the MMS genetic archite cture. An overall picture reveals a genetic system characterized by ad ditivity, dominance for fast mating, and no influence of the X chromos ome. There results do not support strong natural selection favoring fa st mating in Drosophila males.