Triploid Chum Salmon and Triploid Chum X Chinook Salmon Hybrids Perform Equal to Diploid Chum Salmon During Isolated and Common Growth Trials

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Commercial Fisheries Professional Paper

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Miller, G. D., and J. E. Seeb. 1994. Triploid chum salmon and triploid chum x chinook salmon hybrids perform equal to diploid chum salmon during isolated and common growth trials. A thesis was published under a similar title in 1990. Miller, G. D. 1990. Survival, allozyme expression, and early freshwater growth of triploid chum salmon and triploid chum x chinook salmon hybrids. Publication No. WSG-TH 90-02, NOAA Grant No. NA89AA-D-SG022, WSG Project No. R/A-50.

Abstract: Thesis Abstract: Interspecific salmonid hybrids show great potential for fish culture because they may combine the desirable characteristics from two species. However, these hybrids often exhibit poor survival and growth as diploids. It has been well documented that induced triploidy often improves the viability of diploid hybrids and while diploid hybrids are sometimes fertile, triploids are routinely sterile. Triploid hybrids between chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) and chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) demonstrate the benefits induced triploidy and interspecific hybridization may provide aquaculture. Combination of the early saltwater tolerance of the chum salmon with the high flesh quality of the chinook salmon in a viable triploid hybrid may alleviate several problems currently encountered in aquaculture. This study evaluated diploid and triploid progeny from interspecific matings between chum salmon and chinook salmon. Emphasis was placed on survival and early growth rates of triploid chum salmon and triploid chum salmon X chinook. salmon (female parent first) hybrids. I used protein electrophoresis to confirm biparental inheritance of allozymes in putative hybrids. Flow cytometry was used to assess ploidy, and, additionally, the first successful use of microfluorometry using a camera expos we meter to determine ploidy as an alternative to flow cytometry was performed. Induced triploidy significantly improved the survival of chum salmon X chinook salmon hybrids in all families. I found no difference in growth rates between diploid chum salmon, triploid chum salmon, or triploid chum X chinook salmon hybrids after 14 months of freshwater rearing; no growth depression of triploids or triploid hybrids was seen as has been reported in other species of salmonids. There was no evidence that triploids grew better separately than when grown in common with diploids. The triploid hybrids retained the early saltwater tolerance of chum salmon. The triploid chum salmon X chinook salmon hybrid may be an ideal hybrid for aquaculture and may improve the profitability of marine culture of salmonids.

Keywords: Not available.

URL: http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/washu/washux90002.pdf

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Paper No. CFPP.094