<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Several scientific methods have been described in the identification of triploid fish. However, many of these methods are not applicable for routine management purposes due to their complexity and cost. In this study, the possibility of using morphological variation as a least cost and less complex method of distinguishing triploid and diploid African catfish <italic>Clarias gariepinus</italic> (Burchell, 1822) was examined. Triploid catfish were produced by cold shock of fertilized eggs in 5°C for 20 mins (at approximately 3 mins after fertilization). The fish were incubated, hatched and raised for 3 months. Ploidy levels of the fish were then ascertained by observing the erythrocyte shape. Triploid erythrocyte was ellipsoidal in shape while diploid was round. Morphological characterization was then carried out on 100 samples each of triploid and diploid African catfish. Although significant differences were observed in many parameters, the principal morphometric difference between triploid and diploid African catfish could not be clearly distinguished. It was therefore concluded that morphological characteristics is not ideal for discriminating triploids and diploids of African catfish. The used of erythrocyte characteristics still remains the cheapest and relatively effective method for triploid and diploid determination in African catfish.</p></abstract>

Several scientific methods have been described in the identification of triploid fish. However, many of these methods are not applicable for routine management purposes due to their complexity and cost. In this study, the possibility of using morphological variation as a least cost and less complex method of distinguishing triploid and diploid African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) was examined. Triploid catfish were produced by cold shock of fertilized eggs in 5°C for 20 mins (at approximately 3 mins after fertilization). The fish were incubated, hatched and raised for 3 months. Ploidy levels of the fish were then ascertained by observing the erythrocyte shape. Triploid erythrocyte was ellipsoidal in shape while diploid was round. Morphological characterization was then carried out on 100 samples each of triploid and diploid African catfish. Although significant differences were observed in many parameters, the principal morphometric difference between triploid and diploid African catfish could not be clearly distinguished. It was therefore concluded that morphological characteristics is not ideal for discriminating triploids and diploids of African catfish. The used of erythrocyte characteristics still remains the cheapest and relatively effective method for triploid and diploid determination in African catfish.

Morphometric Variations Between Triploid and Diploid <italic>Clarias gariepinus</italic> (Burchell, 1822)

School of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences

Croatian Journal of Fisheries

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Morphometric Variations Between Triploid and Diploid  (Burchell, 1822)

Several scientific methods have been described in the identification of triploid fish. However, many of these methods are not applicable for routine management...

Morphometric Variations Between Triploid and Diploid Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Published Online: Oct 10, 2017

Page range: 113 - 121

Received: Dec 31, 2016

Accepted: Jul 07, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cjf-2017-0015

Keywords
African catfish, Ploidy levels, Chromosome number, Cold shock, Erythrocyte shape

© 2017 Jalil Normala et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Morphometric Variations Between Triploid and Diploid Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Published Online: Oct 10, 2017

Page range: 113 - 121

Received: Dec 31, 2016

Accepted: Jul 07, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cjf-2017-0015

KeywordsAfrican catfish, Ploidy levels, Chromosome number, Cold shock, Erythrocyte shape

© 2017 Jalil Normala et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
African catfish, Ploidy levels, Chromosome number, Cold shock, Erythrocyte shape