Comparative performance of growth, biochemical composition and endocrine profiles in diploid and triploid tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L

Growth, biochemical composition and endocrine profiles of normal diploid and pressure, heat and cold shock induced triploids of Oreochromis niloticus were investigated. Triploid females were not significantly different from diploid females in growth rate or proximate composition but they were found to be functionally and endocrinologically sterile. Triploid and diploid males showed no significant differences in growth, proximate composition, endocrine profiles or secondary sexual characteristics but the triploids were gametically sterile. The potential value of triploid tilapia being used to avoid precocious sexual maturation and concomitant culture problems are discussed.