Pressure Induced Triploidy in Hybrid Lepomis

Worldwide expansion of aquaculture will require identification of species more adapted to localized conditions and less likely to affect genetic diversity of natural populations in the event of escape. Hybrids of Lepomis sunfish have the potential as an alternative for aquaculture in regions of North America where the growing season is unsuitable for production of traditional coldwater and warm‐water species. Triploidy was induced in hybrids of green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus males and bluegill L. macrochirus females using hydrostatic pressure shocks. A total of 27 combinations of pressure (41,369, 48,264, and 55,158 kPa), duration (2, 3, 4 min), and post‐fertilization time of shock initiation (2, 3, 4 min) were tested to identify those which were most efficient for inducing triploidy. Several of the shock regimes produced 100% triploid hybrid sunfish with at least 90% survival relative to unshocked controls. The two shock treatments deemed best overall were: 1) 48,264 kPa for 4 min begun 2 min after fertilization; and 2) 41,369 kPa for 2 min begun 3 min after fertilization.