Document Type

Article

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

1991

Journal

Journal of Shellfish Research

Volume

10

Issue

2

First Page

445

Last Page

450

Abstract

Growth, tolerance of Perkinsus marinus, and gametogenesis of diploid and triploid Eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1791) were compared in the York River, Virginia between June 1989 and November 1990. Triploid oysters had significantly greater mean shell height (P ,a;; 0.02) and whole weight (P ,a;; 0.005) than diploid oysters throughout the study period. In November 1990, triploids had significantly greater mean dry tissue weight (P ,a;; 0.006) than diploids. On average, triploid oysters reached commercial size (63.5 mm) 5 months before diploid oysters. Diploid and triploid groups became similarly infected with P. marinus during summer 1990. Prevalences reached 96% with moderate and heavy intensities in both groups in October 1990. Gonadal development in triploids was significantly reduced (P ,a;; 0.02) compared to development in diploids. While diploid oysters completed a normal gametogenic cycle, gametogenesis in triploid male oysters was arrested prior to gamete maturation in all but one individual, and in triploid females only a few isolated oocytes were produced. Potential commercial utilization of triploid C. virginica will most likely take advantage of superior growth rates compared to diploids, as disease tolerance was not improved.

Keywords

oysters, triploid, growth gametogenesis

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