Phenogenetics of the Lozenge Loci in Drosophila Melanogaster. I. Effects of a Suppressor of Lz.

ABNORMALITIES of the accessory female genitalia and an accompanying decrease in fertility were noted in the logenze (12) group of mutants of Drosophila melanogaster (OLIVER and GREEN 1944). The correlation between reduced female fertility and the absence of the spermathecae in individuals homozygous for these mutants led to the suggestion of the need of these structures in Drosophila for high and continued fertility (ANDERSON 1945). However, the absence of spermathecae cannot wholly account for the reduced ferti1:ty of lz females since variations in fertility were observed among several independent lz mutants as well as their compounds all lacking spermathecae (OLIVER and GREEN 1944). The finding of a suppressor mutation which alters the eye phenotype of the mutant 1 . ~ 4 ~ motivated a detailed re-examination of the causes of reduced fertility associated with homozygous lz females.