长牡蛎壳黑和壳白选育群体生长性状的选择效应

为了培育壳色性状优良且生长性状良好的长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)新品系,本研究以5个壳黑第四代家系和5个壳白第四代家系的成贝为基础群体,利用截头法对壳高进行选择,构建了壳黑和壳白快速生长系第一代群体,分析了两个选育群体的壳高和活体体重的选择反应、遗传获得和现实遗传力等遗传参数。结果表明,在长牡蛎收获的490日龄,壳黑群体和壳白群体选择组壳高较对照组壳高分别提高(9.83?1.68)%和(9.97?1.87)%,体重分别提高(10.16?3.64)%和(11.36?1.96)%。两选育群体壳高的平均现实遗传力分别为(0.353?0.09)和(0.405?0.111),体重的平均现实遗传力为(0.192?0.080)和(0.244?0.123)。本研究表明壳黑群体和壳白群体具有较大的遗传方差,在对壳高生长速度直接选择的同时实现了对活体体重的间接选育,可继续通过群体选育提高生长速度。本研究结果可以为培育出壳色美观、生长性状良好的长牡蛎优良品种提供科学依据。     

Heritability estimates for nutritional quality‐related traits of the Pacific oyster,Crassostrea gigas

Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, are the most abundantly harvested shellfish in the world and are ecologically significant. The content of nutrients, including protein, glycogen, lipid, zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se), is important for oyster meat quality, but heritability estimates of such traits have rarely been reported. In this study, 64 full‐sib families were generated using a nested mating design. Finally, 18 full‐sib families, of which there were nine half‐sib families, with each containing 2 full‐sib families, were sampled for heritability estimates. The narrow‐sense heritabilities of glycogen, protein, lipid, Zn, and Se contents were 0.29 ± 0.02, 0.38 ± 0.02, 0.58 ± 0.08, 0.02 ± 0.02, and 0, respectively. Negative genetic correlations existed between both glycogen and protein content (?0.95 ± 0.004) and between lipid and protein content (?0.59 ± 0.05), whereas a positive correlation was observed between lipid and glycogen content (0.16 ± 0.06). Weak genetic and phenotypical correlations (r = 0–0.2) were observed between shell height and nutritional quality traits. These data demonstrated that glycogen, protein, and lipid content can be chosen in a selective breeding program, but glycogen and lipids cannot be selected together with protein. Furthermore, performing indirect selective breeding for quality traits by selecting traits related to growth is impossible. This study provides information for the development of breeding strategies for oyster quality traits.     

Genetic parameters of growth and survival in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas

The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas is a representative bivalve mollusc that is widely cultured in the world and is the largest molluscan group cultured in China. In order to assess the feasibility of improving survival of C. gigas through genetic selection, the heritability and genetic correlations for growth and survival traits between different life stages were examined. Genetic parameters were estimated based on intraclass correlations of 49 full‐sib families (29 half‐sib families) in larvae (4 and 20 days after fertilization) and spat (140 days after fertilization) stages. The heritability for growth traits in larvae and spat was 0.30–0.86 and 0.53–0.59, respectively, and varied with ages. The heritability of survival was low in larvae (0.13 ± 0.05 and 0.17 ± 0.04, respectively for 4 and 20 days after fertilization) but medium (0.39 ± 0.07) in spat, suggesting that selection for increasing spat survival was feasible. The genetic correlation between growth traits within age was medium to high and positive (ranging from 0.47 to 0.96, respectively, between shell length (SL) and shell height (SH) at 20 days and between SL and SH at 140 days after fertilization), suggesting that selection to improve single growth trait will cause positive response in another growth traits in C. gigas. The genetic correlations between survival and growth traits at 140 days were low but positive (ranging from 0.23 to 0.27, respectively, between survival and SH and between survival and SL at 140 days after fertilization), suggesting that selection for survival may not have a negative response in growth. Overall, this study suggests that survival traits should be taken as improving target of next selection breeding programme in C. gigas.     

长牡蛎壳金选育群体生长性状的选择效应

长牡蛎是一种世界性的养殖贝类,同时是我国最重要的经济贝类之一,壳色美观和快速生长是目前长牡蛎遗传育种的2个重要目标。2010年通过长牡蛎壳色性状的家系选育,获得了壳白、壳黑、壳金和壳紫4种壳色品系。实验以第二代壳金品系为基础群体,对长牡蛎壳金群体的生长性状进行定向选育,分析了长牡蛎壳金选育群体壳高性状的选择反应、遗传获得和现实遗传力。结果显示,养成阶段选择组的壳高均大于对照组,350日龄后表现出显著的生长优势;幼虫期,壳高性状的平均选择反应、遗传获得和现实遗传力分别为0.549±0.277、3.717%±2.611%和0.339±0.171,养成期分别为0.436±0.138、8.253%±1.014%和0.270±0.086。选择组的贝壳金黄色和外套膜金黄色比例分别提高了22%和10%。研究结果为长牡蛎壳金优良品系培育提供了重要基础资料。     

Genetic parameters of growth and resistance to Polydora ciliata in the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata

The pearl oyster Pinctada fucata is an economically important oyster cultured for pearl production in China. In this study, we used an animal model to estimate the variance components and genetic parameters of growth traits and a sire‐dam threshold model to estimate the resistance of P. fucata to polychaete Polydora ciliata. The results showed that the heritability estimates were 0.3850 ± 0.1421 for shell width, 0.3478 ± 0.1292 for body weight and 0.3387 ± 0.1316 for resistance to P. ciliata, and significantly different from zero (P < 0.05). Both phenotypic and genetic correlations were high between shell width and body weight (0.935 and 0.883 respectively) (P < 0.01), but low between resistance and shell width (0.260 and 0.233 respectively)/body weight (0.152 and 0.083 respectively) (r < 0.30; P > 0.05). The higher heritabilities for shell width, body weight and resistance traits suggested that the three traits can be genetically improved through selective breeding, but the low correlation between growth and resistance traits suggested that the resistance trait can be effectively improved through index selection or through hybridization of two specialized lines, i.e. a high‐resistant line and a high growth line.     

长牡蛎生长性状遗传力、遗传相关和表型相关分析

为了查清乳山(RS)和崆峒岛(KTD)海域长牡蛎生长性状各指标的遗传力、遗传相关和表型相关,本实验通过部分因子交配设计和人工授精的方法建立家系,并在乳山和崆峒岛海域进行养殖。用混合线性模型分别计算RS和KTD海域188日龄、338日龄和474日龄长牡蛎生长性状各指标的遗传参数。结果发现:不同日龄长牡蛎生长性状各指标,在乳山海域的遗传力是0.28~0.55,为中高遗传力,在崆峒岛海域的遗传力是0.34~0.63,为高遗传力;与乳山海域相比,崆峒岛海域各指标的遗传力偏高。运用亲本模型,将日龄和地点作为固定效应,计算得到壳高、壳长、壳宽和湿重的遗传力分别为0.25±0.08、0.29±0.09、0.14±0.05和0.26±0.09。不同海域、不同日龄的遗传相关和表型相关结果各不相同,但各指标间均呈现正相关;总体来讲,性状间的遗传相关大于表型相关。实验结果有助于掌握山东半岛南北两侧长牡蛎生长性状的数量遗传学参数,为制定长牡蛎在该海域的选育技术路线提供数据支持。     

Estimating the heritability for growth-related traits in the pearl oyster,Pinctada fucata martensii (Dunker)

Twelve paternal half-sib families (or 36 full-sib families) of the pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata martensii (Dunker), were produced according to the requirements of hierarchical genetic mating design. A total of 4320 individuals, aged 15 months, were measured for seven growth-related traits. Predicated upon the additive-dominance genetic analysis model, varying genetic variance components and then heritabilities of the growth-related traits of interest were estimated using analysis of variance. Results showed that seven growth-related traits had larger additive genetic variances (P<0.05); the dominance genetic variance of shell weight (SW) was smaller (P>0.05), the dominance genetic variances of other six traits were all larger (P<0.05). Narrow- and broad-sense heritabilities for the seven traits were, respectively, 0.64 ± 0.10 and 0.78 ± 0.12 for shell length, 0.49 ± 0.06 and 0.63 ± 0.09 for shell height, 0.38 ± 0.14 and 0.54 ± 0.16 for shell breadth, 0.41 ± 0.17 and 0.56 ± 0.11 for hinge length, 0.53 ± 0.11 and 0.68 ± 0.08 for body weight, 0.35 ± 0.07 and 0.55 ± 0.08 for tissue weight and 0.67 ± 0.10 and 0.75 ± 0.16 for SW. All heritability estimates were statistically significant (P<0.05). According to these results, the mass selection procedure is suggested for the breeding of P. martensii.     

Growth and gonad development of the tropical black-lip pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera (L.), in the Gambier archipelago (French Polynesia)

The growth and reproductive cycle of cultured black-lipped pearl oysters, Pinctada margaritifera (L.), were studied in the Gambier Islands (134°52′ W, 23°07′ S) from September 2002 to August 2003. Temperatures were recorded throughout the year, revealing seasonal temperature variations between 22.3 and 27.8°C. The mean annual chlorophyll a value, as computed from satellite data, was 0.188 ± 0.075 μg L⁻¹. To study growth and reproduction, 720 two-year-old individuals were ear hung on long-lines suspended at a depth of 7 m. Samples were taken twice a month to obtain the following measurements: shell height; wet weight of flesh and total oyster; dry weight of adductor muscle, mantle and visceral mass; and glycogen content. Gonad development was also studied by histology on parallel samples. Growth was relatively fast during the first 6 months of the study: average shell height increased from 89.1 ± 9.1 to 119.7 ± 10.8 mm and total weight from 93.4 ± 24.5 to 155.1 ± 33.6 g, between September and the end of March. Subsequently, from April to August, no significant growth was observed for shell and flesh, while the muscle weight decreased significantly. Condition index (CI), defined as the ratio of wet weight of the visceral mass to shell weight, and histological changes in the gonad revealed 3 significant reproductive events of different intensities. The analysis of correlations revealed a specific effect of the chlorophyll a concentration on the growth of shell and soma, and one of the temperature on tissue glycogen content. This study also showed also that CI could be an efficient indicator of reproductive events in pearl oyster. It thus appears that the development of gonads goes on throughout the year in the Gambier Islands, without any detectable phase of sexual rest.     

Genetic parameter estimation of nine quantitative traits by a marker‐based method in Large Yellow Croaker,Larimichthys crocea (Richardson)

Large yellow croaker accounts for the largest biomass production of any maricultured fish in China. However, very little is known about the genetic parameters of its commercially important traits. As an initial step towards developing a selective breeding programme, genetic parameters of nine quantitative traits were estimated using a marker‐based method. Dorsal fin samples were collected to extract genomic DNA, and GBS method was employed to construct the libraries for sequencing. Genetic parameters were estimated by REML method through a genomic relationship matrix (G matrix) constructed by abundant genomewide SNPs. The nine traits were body weight (BWT), body length (BL), body height (BH), length/height ratio (LTH), body width (BWH), eviscerated weight (EW), gonad weight (GW), eviscerated weight/body weight ratio (REB) and swim bladder index (SBI). Estimates of heritability were 0.63 ± 0.11, 0.60 ± 0.11, 0.53 ± 0.11, 0.34 ± 0.11, 0.55 ± 0.11, 0.66 ± 0.11, 0.37 ± 0.10, 0.25 ± 0.08 and 0.71 ± 0.10 for the nine traits respectively. The relatively high heritability values may be derived from calculating the genetic relationship by high‐density SNPs. To illustrate that, we had studied on the variation of the heritability estimates with different number of SNPs evenly sampled from 29748 SNPs. The results showed that the estimates of heritability generally decreased when the number of SNPs reduced. There were relatively high phenotypic and genetic correlations between the pairs of BWT, BL, BH, BWH and EW, which indicated that genetic improvement for these traits could be accomplished merely by selecting one trait. The results obtained in this study may provide a reference for the later selective breeding programme.     

壳白长牡蛎品系生长和壳色性状遗传参数估计

以经过连续4代家系选育获得的壳白长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)选育系为亲本,通过巢氏平衡设计建立了30个全同胞家系混合养殖,采用微卫星多重PCR技术进行家系鉴定,基于REML法估算24月龄壳白长牡蛎的生长性状和壳色性状的遗传参数。结果表明,壳白长牡蛎品系壳高、壳长、总重、壳重、L~*(明度)、a~*(红绿轴色品指数)和b~*(黄蓝轴色品指数)的遗传力为中高等水平,依次为0.35±0.13、0.18±0.09、0.20±0.09、0.16±0.08、0.16±0.08、0.27±0.11和0.19±0.08,壳宽、肉重、出肉率、壳型指数A和壳型指数B的遗传力为低等水平,依次是0.07±0.02、0.11±0.06、0.02±0.03、0.08±0.06和0.11±0.06。壳高、壳长、壳宽、总重、壳重和肉重之间的遗传相关和表型相关均为正相关,其中,壳高、壳宽和总重与其他生长性状的相关性较高,分别为0.40±0.65~0.90±0.14、0.39±0.55~0.97±0.24和0.50±0.66~0.99±0.02。壳型指数A和壳型指数B与壳高均为较高的负相关,分别为–0.94±0.16和–0.77±0.19,表明仅以壳高性状为选育目标时,可能不会对长牡蛎壳型改良产生作用。壳白长牡蛎壳色参数与生长性状之间的遗传相关范围为–0.09±0.42~0.91±0.74,不同性状间的遗传相关差异很大,其中L~*与生长参数遗传相关较高,为0.49±0.29~0.91±0.74,表明以壳高、壳长、总重和L~*任一个为选育目标时,其他生长性状都可以获得提高。壳色参数间L~*与a~*负的相关性最高,为–0.96±0.04,L~*与b~*和a~*与b~*相关性较低,分别为–0.08±0.36和0.21±0.31,表明以L~*为选育目标时,可间接降低a~*值。本研究为合理制定壳白长牡蛎新品系育种方案和选择反应预测提供了参考依据。     

长牡蛎第三代选育群体生长性状的选择效应

为了培育长牡蛎的高产抗逆新品种,实验采用群体选育方法构建了中国、日本和韩国3个种群的快速生长选育系,2007年至今已连续进行了6代选育。本实验对长 牡蛎选育F₃代壳高和活体体质量的增长、选择反应和遗传获得等遗传参数进行了分析。结果表明,从第120日龄开始,中国、日本和韩国3个选育群体的壳高和 活体体质量均显著高于对照组,在420日龄时,平均壳高较对照组分别高13.4%、10.1%和10.5%,平均活体体质量较对照组分别重18.5%、13.4%和11.6%;壳高的平均现实遗传力分别为0.447±0.226、0.471±0.297和0.367±0.167,表明适于对壳高的生长速度进行进一步的选育。长牡蛎中国、日本和韩国选育F3代活体 体质量的遗传获得平均值分别为16.01%±3.82%、15.03%±5.21%和11.57%±5.15%,表明对长牡蛎壳高的生长速度进行选育时,活体体质量的生长速度也得到了明显提高。本研究结果可以为长牡蛎快速生长品系的连续选育提供依据。     

Estimation of genetic parameters for growth traits in cultured clam Meretrix meretrix (Bivalvia: Veneridae) using the Bayesian method based on Gibbs sampling

The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters of the growth performance of clam Meretrix meretrix. As part of the breeding programme, 25 full‐sib families nested within eight half‐sib families were produced, planted out and tested to assess the heritability of the total body weight (TW), shell length (SL), shell height (SH) and shell width (SW) at different growth stages. Method of analysis was implemented using the Bayesian method based on the Multiple Trait using Gibbs Sampling under Animal Model program, which was used to estimate the (co)variance components of the traits and conduct genetic analysis. A total of 25 full‐sib families, each with 30–35 individuals within family, were used for the analysis. Significant positive genetic and phenotypic correlations between SL, SW, SH and TW with each other were observed. The growth traits showed high‐magnitude heritabilities, with values ranging from 0.64 to 0.85, which indicates that these traits should respond to selection and therefore should be included in genetic improvement programmes.     

Selection response and realized heritability for growth in three stocks of the Pacific oyster <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crassostrea gigas</Emphasis>

To estimate response to selection and realized heritability for shell height, a one-generation selection was performed in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas using three stocks from China (stock C), Japan (stock J), and Korea (stock K). Applying about the same intensity of selection in the upward direction, three selected and three control lines were created, which were reared under the same environmental conditions at larvae, spat, and grow-out stages. Stock C and stock J showed significantly higher response to selection and realized heritability than stock K at spat and grow-out stages (P < 0.05). At harvest on day 360, the selected lines of stocks C, J, and K were 12.2, 12.2, and 7.9% larger than their control lines, respectively, for shell height. When averaged across the grow-out period, the genetic gain for stocks C, J, and K was 13.2 ± 1.2, 13.2 ± 1.0, and 7.2 ± 0.7%, respectively, and realized heritability was 0.334 ± 0.028, 0.402 ± 0.024 and 0.149 ± 0.027, respectively. The relatively high realized heritability estimate obtained for stock C and stock J indicates that there is genetic variation in the two stocks and that selective breeding by mass selection is very promising.     

Phenotypic indicators for cultured pearl size improvement in the black‐lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera): towards selection for the recipient growth performance

The black‐lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, is the most important farmed species in French Polynesia and the basis of the most valuable export industry. Mass production of black pearls relies on a surgical operation requiring tissue from a donor pearl oyster to be grafted, together with a nucleus made of shell, into the gonad of a recipient oyster. Improving pearl size through family selection remains one of the main challenges for future aquaculture development. This study analyses the relative contribution of donor and recipient oysters to pearl size. To this end, hatchery‐produced donor oysters of two batches, large and small (based on shell height), were used to supply grafts for recipients, which were then monitored individually for their growth performance by recording shell height, width, and thickness, and total live weight (flesh + shells) every 6 months (four biometric measurement times) over 20 months of culture. Pearls issued from the two batches of donors showed no significant differences in nacre weight or thickness. In contrast, recipient oyster shell height and total weight were increasingly positively correlated with these pearl size parameters over the culture period, becoming significant at 8 months post‐grafting. Potential therefore exists to use shell height and oyster weight as phenotypic indicators for selective breeding of recipient oysters with high growth performance to increase pearl size in P. margaritifera.     

Heritability estimates of larval and spat shell height in the Chilean blue mussel (Mytilus chilensis Hupe 1854) produced under controlled laboratory conditions

The heritability of larval size is estimated in Mytilus chilensis, based on a nested design, involving 95 full‐sib and 19 half‐sib families (19 males each mated to 5 separated females) grown under controlled laboratory conditions. The half‐sib heritability estimates at 10, 25 and 40 days for larval and spat shell height ranged between 0.38±0.33 and 0.84±0.45, suggesting that selection for shell size would be effective.     

Genetic analysis of early growth traits of the triangle shell mussel, Hyriopsis Cumingii, as an insight for potential genetic improvement to pearl quality and yield

Individual Hyriopsis cumingii were collected from Poyang Lake, Dongting Lake, and Taihu Lake, China, from which 17 paternal half-sib families, including 51 full-sib families, were produced using a nested design. After the cage culture of each family with ten replicates for 57?days, 30 individuals were randomly selected from each cage, totaling 15,300. Four growth traits were measured for genetic analysis in each mussel: shell length, shell height, shell thickness, and body weight. The heritability of each trait was 0.49?±?0.37, 0.27?±?0.29, 0.59?±?0.39, and 0.47?±?0.38, respectively. Phenotypic and genetic correlation between these four traits fell within the range of 0.89–0.95 and 0.97–1.00, respectively. Early growth traits of H. cumingii show sufficient genetic diversity for genetic improvement. Both phenotypic and genetic correlation between the four traits are high, and thus, the modification on one target trait may modify the remaining three traits accordingly.     

长牡蛎成体生长性状的遗传参数估计

在长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)的选择育种工作中,于2009年和2010年分别获得24个和32个全同胞家系。根据长牡蛎360日龄的壳高、壳长、壳宽、总重、壳重、肉重和出肉率参数,利用ASREML软件的REML方法计算表型变量的方差组分,估算了长牡蛎成体阶段生长性状的遗传参数。结果表明,不同年份长牡蛎家系的生长存在显著差异,2009年家系的壳高、肉重和出肉率显著低于2010年家系(P<0.05),2009年家系的总重则显著高于2010家系(P<0.05)。除出肉率外,2009年和2010年家系的壳高与其他生长性状均存在显著的正相关性(P<0.05)。壳高和总重具有较高的遗传力,分别为0.35±0.15和0.27±0.13。长牡蛎成体阶段各生长性状间的遗传相关和表型相关均为正相关,但相关性的大小不同。本研究估测的长牡蛎成体阶段生长性状的遗传参数,可以为合理制定长牡蛎的育种方案和选择反应预测提供参考依据。     

9个马氏珠母贝家系的中期生长性状评估

2008年3月以2006年构建的4个家系F1为亲本,采用不完全双列杂交法,成功构建了9个马氏珠母贝（Pinctadafacata）家系,在相同养殖条件下对其壳高、壳长、壳宽和体质量进行了周年测量,对不同遗传背景的家系和不同时期4个生长性状的生长速率进行了比较分析。结果显示,不同家系间及不同生长时期在各性状上存在显著差异（P〈0．05）。9个家系的壳高生长速率顺序为F11〉F4〉F9〉F3〉F6〉F12〉F2〉F7〉F5,壳长生长速率顺序为F11〉174〉F3〉F9〉F12〉F2〉F6〉F7〉F5,壳宽生长速率顺序为F6〉F11〉F3〉P9〉F4〉F12〉F2〉F5〉F7,体质量生长速率顺序为F11〉F12〉179〉F3〉F7〉F2〉F4〉F5〉F6。F11、附和F、9家系壳高生长较快,F11家系壳长生长较快,F11、F3和F9家系壳宽生长较快,F11、F12和F9家系体质量生长较快,彼此间差异显著（P〈0．05）。在不同的生长时期各生长指标差异显著性有所不同,10月～12月以壳高、壳长和壳宽增长较为显著,3月～5月以体质量增长较为显著;慢速生长期各生长性状指标增长速率差异均不显著,而快速增长时期各生长性状增长速率均存在显著性差异。筛选出生长性状最优的家系F11,为通过家系选择培育优良品种提供了遗传素材,同时为家系育种策略的制定提供了指导。     

Heritabilities and genetic correlation of shell thickness and shell length growth in a mussel,Mytilus chilensis (Bivalvia:Mytilidae)

Shell thickness in mollusks is generally considered adaptive because of their effects on fitness. However, little is known about the genetic basis of shell thickness. This is important, because the response to selection and the subsequent adaptive microevolution of a trait, such as thickness is only possible when that trait exhibits additive genetic variation. Here, we estimated the narrow‐sense heritability (h²: ratio between additive genetic variance and phenotypic variance) for the traits ‘shell thickness’ and ‘shell length growth’ in a 34‐month‐old cohort of the mussel Mytilus chilensis obtained by using a half‐full sib design and grown in the field. Also, phenotypic and genetic correlations were estimated between both traits. We found that h² showed significant values for shell thickness (0.294 ± 0.194) and length (0.731 ± 0.379). The phenotypic correlation between both traits was positive and significant; however, the genetic correlation between these traits was not. These results suggest both traits can evolve adaptively by selection, but because these traits did not show genetic correlation, it is possible that selection pressure affecting one trait may not affect the other.     

Estimating reproductive success of brooders and heritability of growth traits in Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) using microsatellites

Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) is one of the most important marine food fish species in Asia and Australia. To estimate the reproductive success of broodstock and heritabilities of growth‐related traits, two independent full‐factorial crosses (PI and PII) were created by crossing 10 males and 10 females. At 90 days post hatch (dph), the body weight (BW) and total length (TL) of 804 individuals from PI and 900 individuals from PII were measured and tissues samples of each fish were collected. Parents and offspring were genotyped with nine polymorphic microsatellites. Out of 1704 offspring from the two crosses, 98.7% were assigned to their parents. In PI, 19 of 20 parents produced offspring, while in PII, only five parents contributed to offspring. Low contribution of parents to offspring could lead to reduced genetic variation in the next generation. Heritabilities for growth‐related traits were estimated using the pedigrees reconstructed using microsatellite genotypes. The estimates of heritability were 0.22±0.16 and 0.25±0.18 for BW, 0.31±0.14 and 0.24±0.21 for TL and 0.22±0.22 and 0.15±0.09 for Fulton's condition factor in the two crosses respectively. Body weights at 90 dph and at harvest (289 dph) were significantly correlated (r=0.601, P<0.01). Therefore, growth‐related traits could be improved by exploiting additive genetic effects through selective breeding, and broodstock candidates could be selected early in the production cycle.