Wolbachia, intracellular bacteria infected a wide range of arthropods,  is maternally inherited. Recent surveys indicate that about 16-20% insect species may be infected with the bacteria. Wolbachia has infected more than 19 fruit fly species of the genus Drosophila. However, there is no data shown that the bacteria naturally is present in mutant Drosophila. Some mutant characters such as white, scarlet, dark red, or blackish brown eyes (sepia) have been identified. Mutations of eye shape include oval and large (roughoid), reduced eyes (lobe), no eyes (missing eye), and narrow eyes (barr). Mutations in body color consist of the mutant black, yellow or dark brown (ebony). Mutations that occur in Drosophila wing can be divided into curly (curved upwards), taxi (stretched away from the body), miniature (stretched along the body), and dumpy (split wings). This research was to investigate whether Wolbachia was found in the mutant Drosophila. To determine Wolbachia infection in mutant Drosophila, we used a PCR procedure. The mutant samples were obtained from Padjajaran University, Bandung consisting of seven mutant characters, missing eyes, white, ebony, dumpy, miniature, sepia, and taxi. The results showed that Wolbachia infected all tested mutant Drosophila.

Endang Srimurni Kusmintarsih