Effects of mycotoxin treatment on fly survival, development time, thorax length, fecundity, and longevity in four mycophagous Drosophila species

Many mycophagous Drosophila species have adapted to tolerate high
concentrations of mycotoxins, an ability not reported in any other
eukaryotes. Although an association between mycophagy and mycotoxin
tolerance has been established in many Drosophila species, the genetic
mechanisms of the tolerance are unknown. This study presents the inter-
and intraspecific variation in the mycotoxin tolerance trait. We studied
the mycotoxin tolerance in four Drosophila species from four separate
clades within the immigrans-tripunctata radiation from two distinct
locations. The effect of mycotoxin treatment on 20 isofemale lines per
species was studied using seven gross phenotypes: survival to pupation,
survival to eclosion, development time to pupation and eclosion, thorax
length, fecundity, and longevity. We observed interspecific variation
among four species, with D. falleni being the most tolerant, followed by
D. recens, D. neotestacea, and D. tripunctata, in that order. The results
also revealed geographical variation and intraspecific genetic variation
in mycotoxin tolerance. This report provides the foundation for further
delineating the genetic mechanisms of the mycotoxin tolerance trait.