Genotype-environmental interactions in Schizophyllum commune III. The relationship between mean expression and sensitivity to change in environment

Summary

The relationship between the genetical systems determining mean expression and sensitivity to change in environment has been examined for dikaryotic growth rate in Schizophyllum commune by examining the correlation between these aspects of phenotype in a population in which both are segregating simultaneously. For a collection of environments of diverse composition a positive association was found between mean expression and linear sensitivity. The correlation was low, however, and approximately 50 per cent, of the variation in those two aspects was independent. In a more uniform set of environments the association disappeared, demonstrating firstly that different genetical systems act in different environments, and secondly that at least in certain circumstances mean expression and linear sensitivity are determined by separate gene systems. The association between mean expression and non-linear sensitivity also depended on the particular set of environments considered. It is concluded that the relationship between mean expression and sensitivity is markedly influenced by the environments involved, and that each combination of genotypes, environments and character should be treated as a separate case.