B.G. Bosworth, G.S. Libey, D.R. Notter-1997
Aquaculture, 154: 201-217
Abstract:
A 3 x 3 diallel cross among striped bass, white bass, original cross F1 hybrid females (striped bass female x white bass male), and reciprocal cross F1 hybrid males (white bass female x striped bass male) was used to estimate genetic effects for egg and larval traits. Heterosis was negative for yolk and total egg volumes and positive for male fertility. Striped bass additive effects were positive for oil, yolk, and total volumes of eggs; negative for female fertility; positive for length of larvae; and negative for body depth and swim bladder inflation of larvae. Striped bass maternal effects were positive for larval size and ability to ingest brine shrimp, and negative for swim bladder inflation and survival of larvae. The pattern of deformities, higher in F2 hybrid and backcross larvae than in pure species or F1 hybrid larvae, was indicative of epistatic recombination loss. Four crosses: SB x WB (striped bass female x white bass male), SB x F1 (striped bass female x original cross F1 male), F1 x SB (original cross F1 female x SB male), and WB x SB (white bass female x striped bass male) were evaluated further in recirculating systems. Survival to 40 days post-hatch was highest for SB x WB (12.1%), and higher for SB x F1 (3.5%) than for F1 x SB (0.5%), or WB x SB (0%). Weight and length at 40 days post-hatch were not different for SB x WB (0.23 g and 24.7 mm) and SB x F1 (0.18 g and 22.7 mm). From Day 112 to Day 336 post-hatch SB x WB generally were superior, followed by SB x F1, and then F1 x SB for survival (93.2%, 88.2% and 72.4% respectively), feed conversion (1.50, 1.67, and 1.70), production costs ($13.4/kg, $16.7/kg, and $27.3/kg) and incidence of deformities (0.8%, 7.7%, and 8.4%). Crosses did not differ for relative growth rate or carcass traits. Favorable striped bass maternal effects for larval size and ability to ingest brine shrimp coupled with superior fingerling growth of SB x WB indicate that SB x WB are generally superior to other crosses for recirculating system culture.
(Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA)