Flow Cytometric Identification of Larval Triploid Walleyes

Abstract

A simple and rapid flow cytometric method of identifying triploidy in larval fish was developed. Prolarvae (4.6–8.0 mm total length) of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) were mechanically dissociated into single-cell suspensions and stained with the metachromatic fluorescent dye acridine orange. Dissociation of the prolarvae, application of a two-step acridine orange staining procedure, and identification of ploidy level by flow cytometry was accomplished in under 10 min/sample. This procedure could be adapted for other fish species and could be used to identify other levels of polyploidy or mosaicism.