Gomelsky, B., Department of Fisheries, Min. of Agric. and Rural Development, Fish and Aquacult. Research Station, Dor, D.N. Hof Hacarmel, 30820, Israel
Cherfas, N.B., Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, Dor, D.N. Hof Hacarmel, 30820, Israel
Ben-Dom, N., Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, Dor, D.N. Hof Hacarmel, 30820, Israel
Hulata, G., Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Animal Science, Volcani Center, P.O.Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel

Color variability was investigated in normal (amphimictic) and meiotic gynogenetic progenies produced from seven koi females of several multicolor traits (Kohaku, Taisho-Sanke, Tancho-Sanke and Shiro-Bekko, according to Japanese classification). Females were crossed with males of the same color trait to obtain normal (amphimictic) progenies. UV-irradiated sperm of wild-type colored males was used for inducing diploid gynogenetic development; suppression of the second meiotic division in the eggs was achieved by heat shock. Based on the data obtained, it was concluded that the white-red color complex and the black patches (occurrence or absence) are inherited independently. The inheritance of the white-red color complex is apparently controlled by many genes. The segregation ratio of white:white-red:red fish in progenies is highly variable, and may depend on the rate of red color development in the parents. It is suggested that a dominant gene (BI) controls the development of black pigment in fry and, correspondingly, black patches in later life stages. The recombination frequency between this gene and its centromere, estimated from segregation in meiotic gynogenetic progenies, is about 0.4.