Induction of triploidy in the South African abalone using cytochalasin B

An investigation into triploidy induction in the South African abalone, Haliotis midae, was conducted. It was found that 0.5 mg l–1 of Cytochalasin B (CB) in seawater induced triploidy when administered to coincide with the normal timing of the release of either polar body one (PB1) or two (PB2). This concentration of CB produced 70.9% triploid induction in the PB2 treatment and 48.4% induction at PB1. Significant numbers of tetraploid larvae were found in the PB1 treatment. These resulted from the presence of excess sperm (polyspermy) but only when CB was present. Although larval survival after triploid induction was lower than the control animals, it was considered high enough for use in commercial hatcheries. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998