Fatty acid composition of diploid and triploid populations of tench (Tinca tinca L.)

The aim of the study was to determine the differences in the composition of fatty acids of intramuscular lipids between diploid (2n) and triploid (3n) tench of identical genetic specifications and raised under the same conditions, in relation to sex (F-female vs. M-male) and age (T-3-36 months vs. T3+-42 months). A total of 137 tench (Tinca tinca L.) siblings were analyzed. The control group consisted of 72 diploid tench (39 F and 33 M) and the experimental group of 65 triploid tench (38 F and 27 M). Elevated levels of fatty acids C16:0, C16: In-9c and C18:ln-9c were found in lipids of tench of both age groups (T-3 and T3+). Among T-3 tench, significant ploidy-level related differences were ascertained in the content of specific SFA (C12:0, C13:0, C14:0, C15:0; p < 0.01) and C22:ln-9 (p < 0.05) in favour of 2n males. A significant effect of sex was found only in the diploid tench population: C14:0,p < 0.01 and C14:ln-9c,p < 0.05 in favour of 2n male tench and C18:ln-9c,p < 0.01 in favour of 2n female tench. In the T3+ age group, the ploidy-level effect was apparent in both sexes (C15:0, P < 0.05 and C18:2n-9c, It 1, p < 0.05 in favour of 2n female tench, C16: In-9c,p < 0.01 in favour of 3n male tench, C18:2n-6c,p < 0.01 and C18:3n-3,p < 0.05 in favour of 2n male tench). In the T3+ age group, the effect of sex was apparent for both ploidy levels (C 16: ln-9c, p < 0.01 in favour of 2n female tench, and C 14:0, p < 0.05 in favour of 3n male tench). The qualitative as well as quantitative composition of lipids of specific fatty acids was significantly affected (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.05) by age. The study demonstrated that the factors monitored (ploidy, sex and age) may, under specific experimental conditions, influence the composition of lipid fatty acids of the tench.