Possible similarities in ethanol tolerance and latitudinal Tariations between Drosophila virilis and D. melanogaster

Abstract

Ethanol tolerance of D. virilis, measured by the concentration killing 50% of adults (L. C. 50) after two days of treatment is above 10% and only two other Drosophila species are presently known to be more tolerant. D. virilis appears to use some artificial alcoholic resources in beer factories. However, variations of alcohol tolerance do not seem to be so much related to the nature of larval resources but better to latitude of origin. Our data suggest that, for various biometrical traits, genetic latitudinal clines occur in D, virilis as in D. melanogaster and several other Drosophila species. © 1982, The Genetics Society of Japan. All rights reserved.