Difference Between Diploid and Triploid Grass Carp

The key difference between diploid and triploid grass carp is that diploid grass carp is a fish species that possess two sets of chromosomes and is able to reproduce while triploid grass is a sterile fish species that possess three sets of chromosomes including an extra set of chromosomes.

Grass carp or Ctenopharyngodon idella is a fish species native to Russia and northwestern China. Moreover, it is one of the fastest-growing freshwater fish species and is commonly known as ‘white Amur’. Furthermore, it is one of the most cultivated fish species, accounting for the largest annual production in aquaculture globally. Most importantly, grass carp is a herbivorous fish species that can be used in vegetation control processes in freshwater bodies. Many countries deliberately introduce grass carp into water bodies to control eutrophication. In addition to these, grass carp serves as a good protein source for human. Hence, grass carp is an integral part of fish culture. Diploid and triploid grass carps differ from each other from several factors. Hence, the current article attempts to discuss the difference between diploid and triploid grass carp.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Diploid Grass Carp
3. What is Triploid Grass Carp
4. Similarities Between Diploid and Triploid Grass Carp
5. Side by Side Comparison – Diploid vs Triploid Grass Carp in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Diploid Grass Carp?

Diploid grass carp has two sets of chromosomes in its genome. Generally, most grass carps are diploid. They are unable to reproduce in impoundments. Therefore, they escape into rivers and streams and carry out reproduction. However, they significantly control aquatic vegetation. Thus, diploid grass carps are able of controlling most or possibly all submersed aquatic plants such as filamentous algae, chara, southern naiad, pondweeds and coontail.

Difference Between Diploid and Triploid Grass Carp

Figure 01: Grass Carp

What is Triploid Grass Carp?

Triploid grass carp is the grass carp that possesses three sets of chromosomes. It is a sterile grass carp and does not reproduce. Furthermore, triploid grass carps are herbivores and eat only plants. They are able to live in impoundments. Moreover, similar to diploid grass carp, triploid grass carp also controls aquatic vegetation successfully. In fact, the use of triploid grass carps is an inexpensive method compared to most other aquatic vegetation control methods.

Triploid grass carp lives at least for ten years, and it can grow up to 60 pounds. The stoking rate of triploid grass carp is 5 per acre when the water body has 50% or less vegetation, while the stoking rate is 10 per acre when the vegetation exceeds 50%.

What are the Similarities Between Diploid and Triploid Grass Carp?

Both diploid and triploid grass carps are herbivores.
They can control aquatic vegetation.

What is the Difference Between Diploid and Triploid Grass Carp?

Diploid grass carp has two sets of chromosomes, and it can reproduce. In contrast, triploid grass carp has three sets of chromosomes, and it is sterile. So, this is the key difference between diploid and triploid grass carp.

The below infographic shows more details on the difference between diploid and triploid grass carp.

Summary – Diploid vs Triploid Grass Carp

Grass carp is a herbivorous fish species. It is one of the most cultivated fish species. The key difference between diploid and triploid grass carp is the number of chromosome sets they contain. Diploid grass carp possesses two sets of chromosomes while triploid grass carp possesses three sets of chromosomes. Moreover, diploid grass carp can reproduce while triploid grass carp is sterile.

Reference:

1. Bozkurt, Yusuf, et al. “Importance of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon Idella) for Controlling of Aquatic Vegetation.” IntechOpen, IntechOpen, 6 Sept. 2017, Available here.
2. Porter, Mike. “Grass Carp Is an Option to Control Aquatic Plants.” Noble Research Institute, Available here.