Induction of meiotic gynogenesis in Indian catfish Heteropneustes fossilis(Bloch) using irradiated sperm of H. fossilis and Clarias batrachus (Linn.)

Abstract

Gynogenesis was induced in Indian catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) to produce all female population. The irradiatedspermatozoa from the two species viz.,, H. fossilis and Clarias batrachus were successful in inducing parthenogeneticdevelopment and resulted in the production of viable gynogens. The irradiation of sperm was accomplished by exposingthem to ultraviolet light (260 nm) for a duration of 60 sec. Both cold shock and heat shock treatments were given at5 min post-fertilization. The effects of cold shock given for diploidization at 2 and 4°C for a duration of 15 and 30 min andheat shock at 38 and 41°C for 1, 2 and 3 min resulted in diploid gynogens. Cold shock at a temperature of 2 °C was foundto be better than that of 4 °C and the duration of 15 min was better than 30 min. Heat shock at 41°C for 1 min was foundto be better than 38 °C . The karyological examination of gynogens showed 2n=56 number of chromosomes. The survivalof gynogens produced from the irradiated sperm of H. fossilis and C. batrachus sperm after 60 days of rearing was foundto be 4.12 and 2.78% respectively.