The response of homozygous flies to benzaldehyde is lower than wild-type in an olfactory jump assay, although the response to ethyl acetate and propionic acid is normal. The cuticle is marked by a discrete patch of hyperpigmentation on the mesonotum of the dorsal thorax, which appears as a pentagonal spot from which three narrow stripes of pigmentation extend anteriorly, resembling a trident. This phenotype is more severe in females. Homozygous females have low fertility; they lay normal numbers of eggs, but only 10-20% undergo fertilisation and normal embryonic development. ptg2 fails to complement ptg7 in the olfactory jump assay, and with respect to pigmentation. ptg4 fails to complement ptg7 in the olfactory jump assay, but complements the pigmentation phenotype.
Responds defectively to benzaldehyde but normally to ethyl acetate across a broad range of stimulus concentrations in the chemosensory jump assay.
Fertility of homozygotes low; response to odor of benzaldehyde reduced.
Helfand, Carlson.
