Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Habitat selection of desiccation resistance and body pigmentation along geographical gradients in D. melanogaster

9^th Biotechnology Congress

August 31-September 02, 2015 Orlando,Florida, USA

Veer Bhan

Maharshi Dayanand University, India

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Biotechnol Biomater

Abstract:

Nature collected and laboratory reared nine Indian geographical populations of cosmopolitan species, D. melanogaster, from low to high altitude locality (219 m to 2202 m) were investigated for abdominal pigmentation, desiccation resistance and water loss rate. All the three traits evidenced significant high repeatability across generations. Genetic correlations, based on family means, were significantly high among abdominal melanization and desiccation resistance, as a function of altitude, are quite similar. However, both the traits were negatively correlated with rate of water loss. In view of limited data on desiccation resistance in a dark phenotypic single gene mutant strain of D. melanogaster and two laboratory strains of D. polymorpha, present studies suggest correlated effects of abdominal melanization on desiccation resistance and reduced water loss in montane populations of D. melanogaster. Present investigation suggests role of body melanziation in maintaining thermo-balance as well as water balance in montane populations of D. melanogaster.

Biography :

Email: veerbhan79@rediffmail.com