Inheritance of Red Eyes in Ornamental Koi Carp. (15th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gomelsky, Boris; Warner, Jeffrey L.; Delomas, Thomas A.; Nason, Laurel A.
• Is Part Of: North American journal of aquaculture. Volume 78:Number 3(2016)
• Page Start: 251
• Page End: 258
• Publication Date: 2016-06-15
• Subjects: Aquaculture -- Periodicals; Fish culture -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Physiology -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 639.80973
• DOI: 10.1080/15222055.2016.1167800
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1522-2055

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the inheritance of red eyes in ornamental koi, a variant of Common Carp Cyprinus carpio . The study included crossing fish with different eye color phenotypes and analyzing fish segregations in progenies. In progeny 1, obtained by crossing a red‐eyed, yellow male with a black‐eyed, white‐red female, the segregation "red eyes : black eyes" in juveniles did not differ significantly from the 1:1 Mendelian ratio. In two progenies obtained by crosses of red‐eyed fish from progeny 1, the segregations of larvae with light and dark lenses and the segregations "red eyes : black eyes" in juveniles not having black pigmentation on the body did not differ from the 3:1 Mendelian ratio. In two progenies obtained by crosses of black‐eyed fish from progeny 1, larvae with only dark lenses and juveniles with only black eyes were observed. Based on these data, it was suggested that the appearance of red eyes in koi is controlled by a dominant mutation of one gene ( R / r ); koi with genotypes RR and Rr have red eyes, while koi with genotype rr do not possess this trait. Significant proportions of juveniles from fish of progeny 1 had black pigmentation on the body. In pigmented juveniles the ratio red eyes : black eyes was shifted towards black‐eyed fish likely due to the influence of genes controlling the development of melanin on the body on the expression of mutation R . Based on the occurrence of fish with red eyes and black pigmentation on the body it was suggested that the appearance of red eyes in koi is caused not by an albino but by another demelanization mutation. In a progeny obtained by crossing a red‐eyed female from progeny 1 with a Common Carp with wild‐type color, all fish had black eyes while about 50% of the fish in this progeny had a light yellowish body. This shows that the mutation R causes the appearance of red eyes only in koi; in Common Carp with wild‐type color this mutation causes only partial demelanization of the fish's body.