The objective of this study was to determine the mitotic intervals
(τ0) of two consecutive cell divisions and synchronous
embryonic cleavage in grass puffer, Takifugu niphobles at
different water temperatures (18, 20, 22, and 24℃). The color of the
fertilized egg was light yellowish. The egg type was demersal and unadhesive.
Egg weight was 0.09±0.002 mg. The sizes of unfertilized eggs were smaller
than fertilized eggs in major axis and minor axis at 20℃
(p<0.05). The size of the fertilized egg of
18℃ water temperature group at the blastodisc stage was the smallest
(p<0.05), but no significant differences were
observed in the other water temperatures group except 18℃ water
temperature group (p>0.05). The first cleavage stages at 18,
20, 22, and 24℃ were at 75, 90, 105, and 120 mins, respectively. As water
temperature was increased, embryonic development and formation time of the first
cleavage furrow were accelerated. There were negative correlation between
τ0 and water temperature for grass puffer
(Y=–1.225X+70.05, R2=0.988,
n=10, where Y was τ0 and X was
temperature). This study confirmed that successful hatching of grass puffer was
related to water temperature. Chromosome manipulation will be helpful for this
species using cleavage frequency and τ0.