Epistasis

The following points highlight the top six types of epistasis gene interaction.
The types are:

1. Recessive Epistasis
2. Dominant Epistasis
3. Dominant [Inhibitory] Epistasis
4. Duplicate Recessive Epistasis
5. Duplicate Dominant Epistasis
6. Polymeric Gene Interaction.
Epistasis Gene Interaction: Type # 1.

Recessive Epistasis [9:3:4 Ratio]:
When recessive alleles at one locus mask the expression of both (dominant and
recessive) alleles at another locus, it is known as recessive epistasis. This type
of gene interaction is also known as supplementary epistasis. A good example
of such gene interaction is found for grain colour in maize.
There are three colours of grain in maize, viz., purple, red and white. The purple
colour develops in the presence of two dominant genes (R and P), red colour in
the presence of a dominant gene R, and white in homozygous recessive
condition (rrpp).
A cross between purple (RRPP) and white (rrpp) grain colour strains of maize
produced plants with purple colour in F1. Inter-mating of these F1 plants
produced progeny with purple, red and white grains in F2 in the ratio of 9 : 3 : 4
(Fig. 8.2).
Here allele r is recessive to R, but epistatic to alleles P and p. In F2, all plants
with R-P-(9/16) will have purple grains and those with R-pp genotypes (3/16)
have red grain colour. The epistatic allele r in homozygous condition will
produce plants with white grains from rrP-(3/16) and rrpp (1/16) genotypes.
Thus the normal segregation ratio of 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 is modified to 9 : 3 : 4 in
F2 generation. Such type of gene interaction is also found for coat colour in
mice, bulb colour in onion and for certain characters in many other organisms.
Dominant Epistasis [12 : 3 : 1 Ratio]:
When a dominant allele at one locus can mask the expression of both alleles
(dominant and recessive) at another locus, it is known as dominant epistasis. In
other words, the expression of one dominant or recessive allele is masked by
another dominant gene. This is also referred to as simple epistasis.
An example of dominant epistasis is found for fruit colour in summer squash.

There are three types of fruit colours in this cucumber, viz., white, yellow and
green. White colour is controlled by dominant gene W and yellow colour by
dominant gene G. White is dominant over both yellow and green.
The green fruits are produced in recessive condition (wwgg). A cross between
plants having white and yellow fruits produced F1 with white fruits. Inter-
mating of F1 plants produced plants with white, yellow and green coloured fruits
in F2 in 12 : 3 : 1 ratio (Fig. 8.3). This can be explained as follows.
Here W is dominant to w and epistatic to alleles G and g. Hence it will mask the
expression of G/g alleles. Hence in F2, plants with W-G-(9/16) and W-gg (3/16)
genotypes will produce white fruits; plants with wwG-(3/16) will produce
yellow fruits and those with wwgg (1/16) genotype will produce green fruits.
Thus the normal dihybrid ratio 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 is modified to 12:3: 1 ratio in
F2 generation. Similar type of gene interaction has been reported for skin colour
in mice and seed coat colour in barley.
Dominant [Inhibitory] Epistasis [13 : 3 Ratio]:
In this type of epistasis, a dominant allele at one locus can mask the expression
of both (dominant and recessive) alleles at second locus. This is also known as
inhibitory gene interaction. An example of this type of gene interaction is found
for anthocyanin pigmentation in rice.
The green colour of plants is governed by the gene I which is dominant over
purple colour. The purple colour is controlled by a dominant gene P. When a
cross was made between green (IIpp) and purple (iiPP) colour plants, the F1 was
green. Inter-mating of F1 plants produced green and purple plants in 13 : 3 ratio
in F2 (Fig. 8.4). This can be explained as follows.
Here the allele I isepistatic to alleles P and p. Hence in F2, plants with I-P-
(9/16), I-pp (3/16) and iipp (1/16) genotypes will be green because I will mask
the effect of P or p. Plants with iiP-(3/16) will be purple, because I is absent.
In this way the normal dihybrid segregation ratio 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 is modified to 13 :
3 ratio. Similar gene interaction is found for grain colour in maize, plumage
colour in poultry and certain characters in other crop species.

Duplicate Recessive Epistasis [9 : 7 Ratio]:
When recessive alleles at either of the two loci can mask the expression of
dominant alleles at the two loci, it is called duplicate recessive epistasis. This is
also known as complementary epistasis. The best example of duplicate
recessive epistasis if found for flower colour in sweet pea.
The purple colour of flower in sweet pea is governed by two dominant genes
say A and B. When these genes are in separate individuals (AAbb or aaBB) or
recessive (aabb) they produce white flower.
A cross between purple flower (AABB) and white flower (aabb) strains
produced purple colour in F1. Inter-mating of F1 plants produced purple and
white flower plants in 9 : 7 ratio in F2 generation (Fig. 8.5). This can be
explained as follows.
Here recessive allele a isepistatic to B/b alleles and mask the expression of these
alleles. Another recessive allele b is epistatic to A/a alleles and mask their
expression.
Hence in F2, plants with A-B-(9/16) genotypes will have purple flowers, and
plants with aaB-(3/16), A-bb-(3/16) and aabb (1/16) genotypes produce white
flowers. Thus only two phenotypic classes, viz., purple and white are produced
and the normal dihybrid segregation ratio 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 is changed to 9 : 7 ratio in
F2 generation.

Duplicate Dominant Epistasis [15 : 1 Ratio]:
When a dominant allele at either of two loci can mask the expression of
recessive alleles at the two loci, it is known as duplicate dominant epistasis.
This is also called duplicate gene action. A good example of duplicate dominant
epistasis is awn character in rice. Development of awn in rice is controlled by
two dominant duplicate genes (A and B).
Presence of any of these two alleles can produce awn. The awnless condition
develops only when both these genes are in homozygous recessive state (aabb).
A cross between awned and awnless strains produced awned plants in F1. Inter-
mating of F1 plants produced awned and awnless plants in 15 : 1 ratio in
F2 generation (Fig. 8.6). This can be explained as follows.
The allele A is epistatic to B/b alleles and all plants having allele A will develop
awn. Another dominant allele B is epistatic to alleles A/a. Individuals with this
allele also will develop awn character. Hence in F2, plants with A-B-(9/16), A-
bb-(3/16) and aaB-(3/16) genotypes will develop awn.
The awnless condition will develop only in double recessive (aabb) genotype
(1/16). In this way only two classes of plants are developed and the normal
dihybrid segregation ratio 9 : 3 : 3 : 1 is modified to 15 : 1 ratio in F2. Similar
gene action is found for nodulation in peanut and non-floating character in rice.
Polymeric Gene Interaction [9:6:1 Ratio]:
Two dominant alleles have similar effect when they are separate, but produce
enhanced effect when they come together. Such gene interaction is known as
polymeric gene interaction. The joint effect of two alleles appears to be additive
or cumulative, but each of the two genes show complete dominance, hence they
cannot be considered as additive genes. In case of additive effect, genes show
lack of dominance.
A well-known example of polymeric gene interaction is fruit shape in summer

squash. There are three types of fruit shape in this plant, viz., disc, spherical and
long. The disc shape is controlled by two dominant genes (A and B), the
spherical shape is produced by either dominant allele (A or B) and long shaped
fruits develop in double recessive (aabb) plants.
A cross between disc shape (AABB) and long shape (aabb) strains produced
disc shape fruits in F1. Inter-mating of F1 plants produced plants with disc,
spherical and long shape fruits in 9 : 6 : 1 ratio in F2(Fig. 8.7). This can be
explained as follow.
Here plants with A—B—(9/16) genotypes produce disc shape fruits, those with
A-bb-(3/16) and aaB-(3/16) genotypes produce spherical fruits, and plants with
aabb (1/16) genotype produce long fruits. Thus in F2, normal dihybrid
segregation ratio 9:3:3: 1 is modified to 9 : 6 : 1 ratio. Similar gene action is
also found in barley for awn length.

Epistasis

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The following points highlight the top six types of epistasis gene interaction.

The types are:

Epistasis Gene Interaction: Type # 1.

An example of dominant epistasis is found for fruit colour in summer squash.

Epistasis Gene Interaction: Type # 4.

Epistasis Gene Interaction: Type # 5.

A well-known example of polymeric gene interaction is fruit shape in summer

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