On the relation of the “lethal yellow” gene to the “lemon” in Bombyx mori, with special reference to the maternal inheritance of lethal yellow

Abstract

The lethal yellow gene (lem^l) in the silkworm is recessive. The larvae homozygous for this gene show a distinct yellow body color directly after the first moulting and die within a few days because of their inability to feed. The yellow color is due to the pigment “xanthopterine-B” contained mostly in the pigment granules of the hypodermal cells.