The Cellular Expression and Genetics of Purple Body (Pb) in Poecilia reticulata, and its Interactions with Asian Blau (Ab) and Blond (bb) under Reflected and Transmitted Light

Abstract

Mature Purple Body and Non-Purple Body male guppies differ from each other in several ways. Non-Purple males may have large numbers of xanthophores, erythrophores, and blue iridophores, in addition to the usual dendritic, corolla and punctate melanophores. Fewer violet iridophores are found. In contrast, homozygous Purple Body males lack collected and clustered xanthophores, although isolated single xanthophores remain. Violet iridophores and blue iridophores (violet-blue chromatophores units) abound. The dendrites of dendritic melanophores are finer and form chains with each other. Punctate and corolla melanophores in areas comprising orange ornaments are greatly reduced in number. The heterozygous Purple Body male has erythrophores similar to those of non-Purple males, but yellow pigment is reduced. The melanophores are not as greatly changed in orange ornaments. In Domestic Guppy strains, and at least in one suspected instance in wild-type, melanophore structure and populations may be further modified by one or more additional autosomal genes.