Optimisation of UV Treatment Duration to Induce Haploid Androgenesis in the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus L.)

Abstract

The optimum UV duration times of eggs were examined in order to develop a simple and safe method for inducing androgenetic development in the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. The yield of androgenetic haploid O. niloticus to the pigmentation stage was 18.53 ± 5.3% (relative to controls) with an optimal UV irradiation dose of 540 Jm-2 (at 150 μWcm-2) for 6 min. Most embryos developing after fertilisation with normal spermatozoa showed abnormal morphology and a haploid number of chromosomes (n = 22). The success of oocyte denucleation was also assessed by using the recessive "blond" skin pigmentation character.