Genetic control of pheromones in Drosophila simulans. I. Ngbo, a locus on the second chromosome

7-Tricosene and 7-pentacosene are predominant hydrocarbons on the cuticle of both sexes in Drosophila simulans. The pheromonal role of 7-tricosene has been clearly established for conspecific males, while a synergistic effect for 7-pentacosene has been postulated. Interstrain variation for the production of both compounds is very marked, but similar for both sexes. The genetic basis of this polymorphism was investigated. A major role was found for the second chromosome, which controls the 7-tricosene:7-pentacosene ratio. The main locus involved in controlling this variation, Ngbo, was mapped to position 65.3 on the second chromosome. The production of 7-pentacosene is directly related to the Ngbo genotype, which is additively expressed with two known alleles, Seychelles and Cameroon. These alleles act codominantly and are, respectively, hypomorphic and hypermorphic with regard to their effect on 7-pentacosene production. The production of 7-tricosene, which is partially inversely related to that of 7-pentacosene, is also affected by secondary interactions with the second chromosome and with the autosomal background.