PATTERNS OF ALLOZYMIC VARIATION IN INDIAN NATURAL POPULATIONS OF TWO COLONISING DROSOPHILIDS

Abstract

Isofemale lines derived from yearly population samples of Drosophila immigrans from Hasimau(W.B.) andZaprionus indianus from Dehradun (U.P.) were analysed for allozymic variability patterns through standard starch gel electrophoresis as well as postelectrophoretic heat denaturation techniques. Five polymorphic loci revealed marked constancy in temporal allelic frequency patterns in both the colonising drosophilids. The thermostability isoelectrophoretic variation at the Acph and Est-2loci in D. immigrans and at Est-I and Adh loci in Z. indianus was also found to be characteristically uniform and persistent. Such patterns of allozymic homogeneity could possibly result from natural selection mechanisms.