The performance of triploids versus diploids in aquaculture: a review through the omics window

The burgeoning field of the aquaculture industry has experienced a paradigm shift over the last three decades with the introduction of triploid animals. This review paper aims to dissect the comparative investigations on the performance of triploid and diploid animals within aquacultural practices, focusing on salmonids and oysters. The core of this article lies in the application of omics platforms, encompassing genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, to a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of triploid biology in contrast to their diploid counterparts. Omics technologies have developed as crucial tools in studying triploid fish and bivalves, offering unprecedented visions into their genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolic makeups. These visions are vital for enhancing our understanding of triploid performance, often marked by increased growth rates and partial or complete reproductive sterility, making them highly valuable for aquaculture. The paper highlights the importance of omics in identifying the molecular determinants of these desirable traits, thereby providing a molecular lens through which the efficacy of triploid aquaculture species is assessable. The review synthesizes the main findings from various omics platforms, revealing that triploids display distinct molecular profiles that confer them with superior aquacultural qualities. These comprise alterations in gene expression patterns related to growth and stress response, gonadal development, nutritional requirements, and unique metabolic adaptations. Providing a comprehensive omics-based comparison illuminates the path forward for optimizing triploid production, ensuring food security, and advancing the aquaculture industry toward a more sustainable future.