Reduction of Nauplii Size in an Allochthonous Artemia Strain through Selective Breeding

By : P.A.Vikas , N.K. Sajesh Kumar , P.C. Thomas , Kajal Chakraborty , J. Jayasankar , K.K. Vijayan

Page No: 147-165

Abstract
The present study was aimed to develop an Artemia strain producing small nauplii through selective breeding. Fifteen generations of mass selection were carried out for the reduction of nauplii size in the indigenous Artemia, which was identified to be Artemia franciscana naturalized in the Indian salinas. Mean values of life-history traits, heritability of nauplii size, selection differentials, standardized selection differential, and predicted and realized selection responses were estimated from the fullsib data. The selection response realized from fifteen generations of selection was a 14.9% reduction in nauplii length (from 517.0 ± 39.8 ?m to 439.3 ± 27.0 ?m). Five percent reduction in cyst size (from 224.83 ± 14.81 ?m to 212.5 ± 9.5 ?m) was realized as a correlated response. Concurrently with the reduction in nauplii and cyst size, a significant increase in cyst hatching percentage (10%) was also realized as a correlated gain (from 54.4% to 64.58). Heritability estimate for the first-day nauplii length, pooled for the fifteen generations was 0.94 ± 0.27. Since nauplii/cyst size and hatching efficiency along with the nutrient profile are the prime indicators that determine the suitability of Artemia as larval feed, the selectively bred Artemia of the present study make it a promising strain for larviculture.

Authors :
P.A.Vikas
Subject Matter Specialist, Fisheries, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Ernakulam) of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), 
Narakkal, Kochi, Kerala - 682505, India.

N.K. Sajesh Kumar
Marine Biotechnology Division (MBTD), Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Post Box No.1603, Ernakulam North P.O, Cochin-682018, Kerala, India.

Kajal Chakraborty
Marine Biotechnology Division (MBTD), Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Post Box No.1603, Ernakulam North P.O, Cochin-682018, Kerala, India.

J. Jayasankar
Marine Biotechnology Division (MBTD), Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Post Box No.1603, Ernakulam North P.O, Cochin-682018, Kerala, India.

K.K. Vijayan
Marine Biotechnology Division (MBTD), Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Post Box No.1603, Ernakulam North P.O, Cochin-682018, Kerala, India.
 

DOI: http://doi.org/10.32381/JAT.2021.36.1-4.14