Patterns of variation in desiccation resistance in a set of recombinant inbred lines in Drosophila melanogaster

GOMEZ F.H.; SAMBUCETTI P; LOESCHCHE, V; NORRY F M

PHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY (PRINT)

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2015 vol. 40 p. 205 - 211

0307-6962

Desiccation, resulting from extremely dry environmental conditions, is aserious obstacle to the survival of organisms. Water is vital for the maintenance ofintracellular structure and prevents the irreversible formation of aggregates, an occurrenceleading to loss of cellular function. To characterize genetic variation in desiccationstress resistance (DSR) in Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, an intercontinental set ofrecombinant inbred lines (RIL) is used. Flies are exposed to a low humidity environment(<10% relative humidity) at a constant temperature of 25 ∘C. Desiccation stressresistance is higher in RIL derived from a backcross to the parental stock sensitive toheat stress (from Denmark) than in RIL derived from the reciprocal backcross to theheat-stress resistant stock (from Australia). Composite interval mapping reveals significantquantitative trail loci (QTL) for DSR in the set of RIL. Both major and minoreffects QTL are detected, suggesting a complex genetic architecture. When comparedwith a previous investigation performed on the same set of RIL, the present study indicatesthat not all traits of resistance to environmental stressors are affected in the samedirection by segregating co-localized QTL.