CHARACTERIZATION OF DOMINANT CUTICULAR HYDROCARBONS IN INVERSION AND INVERSION-FREE STRAINS OF DROSOPHILA ANANASSAE (DOLESCHALL).

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) of Drosophila ananassae (Doleschall) was characterized and identified using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. A high % of methyl-branched alkanes were identified in all inversion (2LA, 3LA and 2LA+3LA) and inversion-free strains followed by linear alkanes and alkenes. The present work unfolds the significant patterns of variations in the isomeric forms of methylated alkanes between the inversion and inversion free strains (F-46.6; df-3, p 0.005), and non-significant between the sex (F-2.14; df-1, p 0.2394). But in linear alkanes shows significant variation between the inversion strains (F-30.49; df-3, p 0.009) and between the male and female (F-115.45; df-1, p 0.001) was observed. In particular there is a significant correlation between the chromosomal inversion and synthesis of CHCs in D. ananassae. Unique blend of CHCs in Drosophila performs dual role as desiccation resistance and act as chemical signalling molecule. Linear alkanes are majorly involved in desiccation resistance but in methyl- branched CHCs length variation is a key determinant of desiccation resistance. Presence of longer methyl- branched alkanes and higher desiccation resistance, shorter the carbon chain length act as a signalling molecules. The current study revealed the influence of chromosomal inversion on the cuticular hydrocarbon profile in D. ananassae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]