MODIFICATIONS OF MEAN OVARIOLE NUMBER, FRESH WEIGHT OF ADULT FEMALES AND DEVELOPMENTAL TIME IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER INDUCED BY DROSOPHILA C VIRUS

Abstract

Drosophila C virus, a picornavirus that has some influence on ovarian morphogenesis, was discovered in a French strain of Drosophila melanogaster. When the strain was infected by Drosophila C virus (DCV), the mean number of ovarian tubes and weights of the adult females increased, but the developmental time from egg to imago decreased. The maternal effects observed when DCV was present disappeared when the strain was DCV free but were restored by experimental contamination.