The analysis of fitness in Drosophila melanogaster stocks with whiteapricot mutation after influence of microwave radiation

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of microwave irradiation of Drosophila melanogaster females on parameters of fitness of Drosophila. Methods. Three Drosophila stocks were used: stock whiteapricot (wa), and two stocks, obtained by saturation of the wild-type stocks Canton-S and Oregon-R with mutation wa (waC-S and waOr). The Drosophila females were exposed to microwave radiation (f=37.5 GHz; P=250 μW/cm), exposure time was 60 sec. Drosophila females were exposed at two different stages of eggs development: during 1–2 days after pairing with nonexposed male and during 3–4 days after pairing. Three characteristics of Drosophila fitness were assessed in progeny of exposed females: fecundity, imago viability, and death rate on pupa stage. Results. The increase of fecundity was revealed only in progeny of waOr flies exposed at early stage of egg development. Imago viability increased only in waOr males. Increase of death rate at the pupa stage in the progeny of exposed females was revealed in lines wa and waC-S. Conclusions. The influence of microwave radiation on Drosophila melanogaster adaptive traits has been studied. In some variants of experiment in progeny of females exposed to microwaves the increase of fecundity, imago viability, and pupae death rate were observed. It is shown that the main factor determining the fitness quantity traits is genotype. The increase of fecundity and imago viability was observed only in one line (waOr) if females exposed to microwaves at early stage of egg development (stage of meiosis).
 Keywords: fecundity, drosophila, electromagnetic radiation.