Persistent larval salivary glands are found in 34% of rst^D homozygotes, compared to 0% of controls, at 24 hours APF. These persistent salivary glands have large vacuoles, indicating that the normal cell death process has been arrested at an early stage.

Mutants have slightly reduced eyes with a dark red colour, glassy texture and flattened appearance. The posterior and ventral border of the eye are abnormally straight. The number and relative position of photoreceptors is normal in the adult, but their general organisation is somewhat disturbed, with rare malrotated ommatidia. The pigment distribution around the ommatidia is also abnormal, being completely absent in some regions. No obvious misrouting of axonal fibres crossing the inner and outer optic chiasm are apparent in the optic lobe. The onset of programmed cell death is delayed in mutants, In wild-type cell death is seen between 25% and 35% pupal development (p.d.), but in mutants cell death is not seen until 35% p.d.. Maximal cell death is seen at 45% p.d. and is still observed by 50% p.d. and is only seen to be absent by 60% p.d. In mutants secondary and tertiary pigment cell fates do not differentiate properly.

Reduced eyes with a glassy appearance, severity of the phenotype depends on the genetic background. Optic lobe has mild axonal pathfinding defects. Ommatidial structure is grossly disorganised due to lack of recognisable secondary and tertiary pigment cells.

rst^D has ommatidium phenotype, non-suppressible by BacA\p35^GMR.PH

rst^D has photoreceptor cell pigment granule phenotype, non-suppressible by BacA\p35^GMR.PH