Occurrence of aneuploidy in radiation gynogenesis of carp, Cyprinus carpio L.

DNA content and chromosome numbers were studied in gynogenetic and normal carp embryos. Gynogenetic embryos showed the haploid chromosome number; the occurrence of spontaneous diploidization was rare. Early cold shock treatment of the gynogenetic zygotes resulted in the retention of the second polar body producing a much higher proportion of normally developing viable larvae. The appearance of large numbers of aneuploid embryos in the cold-treated gynogenetic group is explained by the loss or breakdown of chromosomes that are caused in their turn by the absorbtion of the second polar body through the cold treatment.