Transmission of the hereditary S character in Drosophila simulans: effects of aging and temperature treatments.

The expression of the S character of Drosophila simulans associated to hereditary reovirus DSV is affected by the rearing temperature. The transmission of the S character and the consequences of the length of high temperature (28 degrees C) treatments on that transmission were investigated. Larvae treated at 28 degrees C from eclosion to imaginal emergence produce few S individuals in the offspring. The offspring of larvae treated between the 144th hr of development (middle of the pupal stage) and the imaginal emergence show variable levels of S phenotype expression. These levels appear to be related to the age and phenotype of their mothers. Those facts are discussed under the hypothesis of S character being caused by the hereditary reovirus Drosophila S virus.