The severity of the shu¹/Df(2R)b23 ovarian phenotype can vary between females and even between ovarioles. 40-60% of the ovarioles from newly eclosed shu¹/Df(2R)b23 females do not contain any developing egg chambers, containing only germaria-containing clusters of germline cells which sometimes appear pycnotic. The remaining ovarioles contain only 1-3 egg chambers and their numbers fail to increase as the females age. Some egg chambers with 15 nurse cells and an apparently normal oocyte nucleus are seen, but subsequent egg chambers have fewer than 16 germ cells. None of the egg chambers develop into normal eggs, but instead degenerate by mid- to late oogenesis. The germ cells do not develop branched fusomes characteristic of older cysts. Some mispackaged egg chambers are seen. Females containing homozygous germline clones contain abnormal egg chambers that appear to be degenerating by mid- to late oogenesis.

Ovaries develop with variable numbers of nurse cells. Testes morphology is aberrant.

Few egg chambers, sometimes abnormal numbers of nurse cells, usually early degeneration, few small abnormal eggs.

female-sterile homozygous females contain few developing egg chambers in their ovaries, which may contain abnormal numbers of nurse cells and usually degenerate before yolk uptake begins. Rarely a few very small and abnormal eggs are produced.