Effect of magnesium ions on fertility, sex ratio and mutagenesis in Drosophila melanogaster males.

The effect of magnesium ions on fertility, injury by mutagenic agents of different action mechanism alkylating ethyl-methane sulphonate EMS and ionizing X-ray and on sex ratio was studied with Drosophila melanogaster M. Magnesium was found to increase the fertility and the male to female ratio. EMS decreased the fertility and the male to female ratio, during EMS treatment the magnesium ions did not change the sex ratio but prevented the EMS from decreasing fertility. In X-ray treatment the magnesium ions did not influence the sex ratio but greatly hindered the X-rays from decreasing the fertility.