New Technology for Breeding Superior Tetraploid and Triploid Eastern Oysters

We presently manage the production of tetraploid oyster broodstock which is used by hatcheries along the Eastern seaboard to produce triploid oysters(triploid oysters are sterile and grow faster and larger than diploid oysters). Our tetraploid broodstock is not resistant to Dermo, a disease that frequently kills many eastern oysters. The research supported in this project will allow us to produce tetraploids in one generation. We will utilize diploid oysters, which have been bred for resistancy to Dermo, crossed with our tetraploids. The result should be tetraploid oysters that are resistant to Dermo. These tetraploids will become the broodstock for use by hatcheries to produce Dermo resistant triploids, thus combining the advantages of both technologies.