Offspring Growth in a Diallel Crossbreeding with Three Strains of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract— A complete diallel crossing of three strains, Stirling, Korean and Local, was used to evaluate heterosis of intraspecific crossbreeding on early growth of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus . All possible F-1 hybrid offspring were obtained and their growth rates to 90 d were compared. The specific heterosis for F-1 hybrids in Stirling × Korean, Stirling × Local and Korean × Local crosses were 7.61, 5.63 and 7.70 for weight, and 0.47, 0.26 and 0.55 for length, respectively. The purebred Stirling strain showed better growth than the other two strains (P < 0.05). When growth of F-1 hybrids was compared between sexes, males grew more rapidly than females (P < 0.05). However, no differences were observed in growth of male or female between hybrid groups. Purebred males in the Stirling strain were slightly heavier than those in the Korean and Local strains, and Local × Stirling, Korean × Local and Local × Korean crosses. However, in purebred females Stirling was superior to Korean, but not the Local strain and all F-1 hybrid crosses. Implications to choose the appropriate strains for developing a breeding program of tilapia are also discussed.     

Synthetic surfactants for protecting cultured fish against toxic phytoplankton

Polyoxyethylene alkyl esters, which are surface-active agents, were chemically synthesized from fatty acids (C₁₂-C₁₈) on reaction with different moles of polyethylene oxides, and were tested for effectiveness against the toxic raphidophytes Chattonella marina (Subrahmanyan) Hara & Chihara and C. antiqua (Hada) Ono. The synthetic surfactants destroyed cultured cells from these two species. Although the synthetic surfactants also exhibited ichthyotoxicity, this was lowered by increasing the molarity of ethylene oxide (EO) in alkyl ester molecules. Young yellowtail, Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck & Schlegel, survived exposure to C. marina (5000-5500 cells mLT^?1) or C. antiqua (3000-3500 cells mL^?1) cultures with the addition of 4-5 p.p.m. oleyl ester EO 14, but died within an hour without the addition of this surfactant.     

Growth Characteristics of a Neurotoxin-Producing Chloromonad Fibrocapsa japonica (Raphidophyceae)

The effects of temperature, salinity, irradiance and pH on the growth of Fibrocapsa japonica (Raphidophyceae) were examined to determine how environmental factors affect the distribution of this species. Optimal growth was observed at temperatures of 15–25 C, salinities of 25–35 parts per thousand (ppt), irradiances of 60–140 μmol quanta/m² per s and pH between 7.5–8.5. Growth did not occur at temperatures below 10 C or above 30 C nor at salinities below 15 ppt. Fibrocapsa japonica grew when subjected to irradiances of 20–180 μmol quanta/m² per s, and could tolerate a pH range of 6.5–8.5.     

Development of the musculature and muscular abnormalities in larval seven-band grouper Epinephelus septemfasciatus

There are a number of reports documenting skeletal development in groupers, but surprisingly little is known about muscle development. We have documented muscle development in the seven-band grouper Epinephelus septemfasciatus (Thunberg), focusing primarily on the cranial muscles from 0 days post-hatching (dph) to 28 dph, using a modified whole mount immunohistochemical staining method. The eye muscles developed first followed by the cheek muscles, which completed development prior to first feeding. The muscles associated with the opercle and the levator internus 1 developed gradually and were not linked to first feeding. Later, between 12 and 16 dph, the muscle composition in the dorsal branchial arches changed to the adult form. We observed a number of cultured larvae that exhibited abnormal musculature in the body and jaw. Our results provide the first documentation of muscle development in larval seven-band grouper. This information can be used to detect abnormalities during development and provide a marker to assess the effect of changes in larval rearing techniques.