Triploid and tetraploid Zhikong scallop, Chlamys farreri Jones et Preston,produced by inhibiting polar body I

Triploid scallops are valuable for aquaculture because of their enlarged ad ductor muscle, and tetraploids are important for the commercial production of triploids. We tested tetraploid induction in the zhikong scallop by inhi biting polar body I in newly fertilized eggs. The ploidy of resultant embry os was determined by chromosome counting at 2- to 4-cell stage and by flow cytometry thereafter. Embryos from the control groups were mostly diploids (79%), along with some aneuploids. Embryos from the treated groups were 13% diploids, 18% triploids, 26% tetraploids, 13% pentaploids, and 36% aneuplo ids. Tetraploids, pentaploids, and most aneuploids suffered heavy mortality during the first week and became undetectable among the larvae at day 14. Five tetraploids (2%) were found among a sample of 267 spat from one of the replicates, and none was detected at day 450. The adductor muscle of tripl oid scallops was 44% heavier (P < .01) than that of diploids, confirming th e value of the triploid technology in this species.