Figure 6.

Reduced melanin production in adult females fed yellow-dsRNA. Flies were fed dsRNA or dsRNA in liposomes for 6 consecutive days before haemolymph was collected and assessed for melanin production. Pooled haemolymph from 10 flies was analysed using a BioTek Synergy H1 plate reader at 470 nm over a 30 h period. Negative control flies were fed 2 µg of naked or liposome-encapsulated gfp-dsRNA while experimental flies were fed 2 µg of naked or liposome-encapsulated yellow-dsRNA. The changes in absorbance over time are plotted, while the values at the 30 h time point were used to demonstrate a significant decrease in melanin production in the yellow-dsRNA-fed insects. The values represent the mean and standard errors for six replicates; different letters indicate significant differences, ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test, p < 0.05.