Two genetic models exist to explain the evolution of ageing - mutation 
accumulation (MA) and antagonistic pleiotropy (AP). Under MA, a reduced 
intensity of selection with age results in accumulation of late-acting 
deleterious mutations. Under AP, late-acting deleterious mutations accumulate 
because they confer beneficial effects early in life. Recent studies suggest 
that the mitochondrial genome is a major player in ageing. It therefore seems 
plausible that the MA and AP models will be relevant to genomes within the 
cytoplasm. This possibility has not been considered previously. We explore 
whether patterns of covariation between fitness and ageing across 25 cytoplasmic 
lines, sampled from a population of Drosophila melanogaster, are consistent with 
the genetic associations predicted under MA or AP. We find negative covariation 
for fitness and the rate of ageing, and positive covariation for fitness and 
lifespan. Notably, the direction of these associations is opposite to that 
typically predicted under AP.