How Cold Shock Affects Ploidy Level and Early Ontogenetic Development of the Sterlet, A. ruthenus L.

Dorota Fopp-Bayat,Anna Nitkiewicz,Gyan Chandra

doi:10.3390/ijms23010494

Dorota Fopp-Bayat, Anna Nitkiewicz + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23010494

Copy DOI

Abstract

The objective of the present research was to study the effect of cold shock (3 °C and 6 °C) on fertilized eggs of the sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus L. Cold shock was applied for various durations (30, 60 and 90 min) and the ploidy levels, survival, and genotypes of the treated embryos/larvae were recorded. Analysis of ploidy levels confirmed the presence of diploid, triploid, and mosaic (1n/2n, 2n/3n, and 1n/2n/3n) genotypes in experimental groups, while it was strictly diploid in control groups. Microsatellite genotyping confirmed both the incidence of polyspermy and retention of the 2nd polar body in experimental groups. However, patterns of inheritance in all diploid offspring in experimental and control groups revealed classical Mendelian disomic inheritance. Interestingly, the observed mosaic sterlets had normal morphology and were alive. However, some larvae had abnormal morphology which may be due to haploid syndrome. In all treatment groups (treatments: 3 °C–30 min; 3 °C–60 min; 3 °C–90 min; 6 °C–60 min), where the percentage of polyploid/mosaic larvae were high, the mortality was also high. Whereas, in the control groups (where there were only diploid (2n) larvae), the mortality was relatively low.

Highlights

Sturgeons are one of the most endangered groups of fish, widely exploited for expensive black caviar and tasty boneless meat [1,2,3]
Sturgeons are classified into three ploidy groups: species with ~120 (A. ruthenus), ~240 (A. baerii), and ~360 (A. brevirostrum) chromosomes based on their DNA content [5]
Our results demonstrated that the mosaic genotypes of sterlets had normal morphology, and they were alive

Summary

Introduction

Sturgeons are one of the most endangered groups of fish, widely exploited for expensive black caviar and tasty boneless meat [1,2,3]. Sturgeons are classified into three ploidy groups: species with ~120 (A. ruthenus), ~240 (A. baerii), and ~360 (A. brevirostrum) chromosomes based on their DNA content [5]. Hybridization is common in sturgeon and is a severe threat to their endangered populations [6]. The natural populations of sturgeon are adversely affected by habitat destruction, blockage of spawning migration, pollution, and overexploitation [2,6]. The global aquaculture production of sturgeon biomass was about 102,327 tons, and caviar production was approximately 364 tons, in the year 2017 [7]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion