YY super males have better spermatic quality than XY males in red tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract

The influence of sex-related chromosomal arrangement in an YY and XY population of Oreochromis niloticus males was investigated in this study. A better spermatic mobility, motility, viability, confluence and less abnormality were found in double Y-chromosome males (YY-males), compared to XY-males; however, this better spermatic quality did not correlate with the body weight of individuals which was significantly better in XY-males. This study establishes the influence of YY-related sequences over spermatic quality and indicates the usefulness of the YY technology as a strategy to obtain better fish breeders and genetically male individuals for a tilapia farming program.

Keywords

• Oreochromis niloticus
• tilapia
• spermatic quality
• YY males.