[Phenogenetic analysis of pigmentation of a new coat color mutation of American mink (Mustela vison. Schr. L.) and its combination with some of the known mutations].

A new dominant coat color mutation "talitsa" was revealed in the mink population of "Znamenskii" state fur farm (Tverskaya region', Russia). Qualitative analysis and quantitative assessment of the hair pigment of minks with the standard coat color, Talitsa, Royal-Pastel and American pearl mutations, as well as Talitsa x Royal-Pastel and Talitsa x American Pearl hybrids were conducted. It was shown that hair of all genotypes studied contained only one pigment type, namely, eumelanin. Hair of the standard-colored minks showed the greatest eumelanin content, whereas hair of Talitsa x Royal-Pastel and Talitsa x American Pearl hybrids showed the least content. The morphologic patterns of pigmentation of the mutant minks studied was described, including the shapes, dimensions and color of the pigment granules, as well as their distributions throughout the length and layers of the hair. Talitsa mutation was demonstrated to behave as a strong coloration attenuator in combinations with the Royal-Pastel and American Pearl mutations. It was proposed that the main mechanism determining the phenotypic expression of the Talitsa mutation is the reduction of number of melanocytes in the hair bulbs.