Induction of triploidy in the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) II. Effects of cold shock timing and induction of triploidy in a large volume of eggs

Abstract

Abstract Triploidy was induced in the turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus , L.) by applying cold shocks shortly after fertilization. The combined effects of the timing of cold shock commencement after fertilization, cold shock duration and cold shock temperature were investigated. Ploidy was assessed by counting the number of nucleoli per nucleus (NOR) in larvae and also by measuring erythrocyte size in juveniles. A clear peak in triploidy induction was obtained when shocks were started between 6 and 7 min after fertilization at a pre-shock temperature of 13–14°C. With this timing, shocks of 20-min duration at 0°C gave >90% triploidy, with survival about 80% of the untreated controls. In order to ensure both high triploidy rates and high survival, it was necessary to carefully maintain the water temperature just below 0°C. Experiments with small and large volumes of eggs were performed in order to determine how changes in the relative volumes of eggs and chilled water could affect survival and triploidy induction. The best combination to induce triploidy in the turbot was as follows: shock commencement 6.5 min after fertilization, shock duration 25 min, and shock temperature between 0 and −1°C. With this combination, 100% triploidy could consistently be induced with survival 60% of the untreated control. This was successfully applied to a large volume of eggs (∼300 ml; 1 ml ∼800 eggs) in order to mass-produce triploid turbot. Triploids had lower survival rate than diploids at hatching but similar thereafter, with the ability to complete the different stages of larval rearing, indicating the viability to produce triploid turbot under farming conditions.