Chromosomal polymorphism in Drosophila albomicana and Drosophila sulfurigaster in Thailand

Abstract

The Drosophila nasuta subgroup of the D. immigrans species group (superspecies) is known to contain nine species: D. pulana, D. nixifrons, D.neonasuta, D. kohkoa, D. kepulauana, D. albomicana, D.nasuta, D. pallidifrons, and D. sulfurigaster. The latter species includes three subspecies D. sulfurigaster sulfurigaster, D. s. albostrigata and D. s. bilimbata. Members of the nasuta subgroup are widespread throughout Southeast Asia. Cytogenetic study has indicated that these species are highly polymorphic for chromosomal inversions. This study deals with the salivary gland chromosomes of two of these species: D. s. albostrigata and D. albomicana collected from Mae-Sod and Thung-Song, Thailand. The frequencies of gene arrangements in the samples showed seasenal variations that appeared to be correlated with temperature changes.