Location: Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr
Project Number: 6028-31630-009-008-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Mar 15, 2023
End Date: Dec 31, 2026
Objective:
Develop methods for the production of triploid sunshine bass.
Approach:
Trials at Keo Fish Farm will use hydrostatic pressure shock to create triploid HSB; if time allows, production via electric shock may be investigated. Flow cytometry or a Coulter Counter will verify percent triploid for each treatment. More information needs to be developed on the timing of 2nd polar body (PB) release to allow for the optimum time to apply the shock treatment. Experiments will be designed to elucidate post-fertilization PB release times using fluorescent stains.
Once PB release time or another method to determine timing to apply the shock treatments, attempts to make triploids will commence. The typical procedure to optimize treatment times post-fertilization, pressures and/or electrical current exposure times is by trial and analyses of triploid:diploid larvae via flow cytometry. In these experiments, triploid-inducing treatments will be applied, and the treated eggs will be transferred to individual egg-hatching jars in our experimental hatching system, where each egg-hatching jar is supported on the top edge of an aquarium. Flow-through water from the head box above the hatching table will be introduced to keep the eggs rolling. In the experimental hatching system, effluent from each egg-hatching jar will drain into an aquarium to retain hatching larvae. The standpipe of the aquaria will be encased in a larger standpipe frame covered with 1,200-µm mesh to prevent larvae from escaping. After the yolk has been absorbed on these larvae (approximately 6 days), they will be analyzed for triploid:diploid ratio via flow cytometry or Coulter Counter.
