Phenotypic and genetic parameters of body and compositional traits in Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.)

Abstract. Phenotypic and genetic parameters of body and compositional traits were estimated for a population consisting of 327 two-year-old Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), from 21 full-sib groups. Heritability estimates for body traits, such as fork length, gutted weight, condition factor and visceral weight, were all of intermediate magnitude (0·24–0·45). Heritabilities for carcass component traits, e.g. fat, protein, dry matter and astaxanthin contents, were low to medium (0·0–0·28). Genetic and phenotypic correlations were high between astaxanthin content and body traits, whereas they were medium to low between astaxanthin content and carcass compositional traits such as fat, dry matter and protein contents. The genetic variation in fat and dry matter contents was closely associated with variation in body weight. Selection for higher body weight at 2 years will probably lead to small, but positive, correlated changes in fat content. Our findings suggest that it should be possible to select for higher astaxanthin content in Artic charr to improve their flesh coloration.