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


J.E. Toro, A.C. Alcapán, A.M. Vergara, J.A. Ojeda-2004

Aquaculture Research, 35(1): 56-61 

Abstract:

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.

(Instituto de Biología Marina, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile. E-mail: jtoro@uach.cl)


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