Impact of triploids on meat quality and yield in brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) across seasonal maturation stages

The maturation process in salmonids, particularly Salvelinus fontinalis , under artificial breeding conditions is associated with phenomena that reduce production yield. Triploid populations are not affected by gonadal maturation, suggesting that triploidy could mitigate these losses. However, the impact of triploidy on meat quality requires thorough evaluation. This study compares diploid males, diploid females, and triploid individuals from pre-mature spring and mature autumn populations. Post-mortem changes, sensory attributes, and nutritional characteristics of S. fontinalis fillets were assessed and correlated with biometric traits and fillet yield indices. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed significant differences between diploid and triploid groups in both seasonal trials, with fillet yield being the primary discriminating factor. Conversely, no significant differences were observed among experimental groups in meat quality parameters, including rigor index (%), pH dynamics, water-holding capacity, texture, and sensory evaluation. Given that diploid fish exhibit yield losses due to maturation while triploid fish maintain comparable meat quality, triploidy represents a promising strategy for improving production efficiency in brook trout aquaculture.