Abstract
Simple SummaryTo increase competitiveness, the aquaculture flatfish industry demands animals with optimal growth rates and a high shape quality. Genetic breeding is an essential tool to achieve these goals but it requires the estimation of the genetic components of these traits under industrial conditions. The current study provides phenotypic data and genetic parameters of eight traits related to growth and shape quality. The high heritabilities and correlations obtained support that genetic breeding programs can be successfully implemented in Senegalese sole to optimize production.Shape quality is very important in flatfish aquaculture due to the impact on commercialization. The Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is a valuable flatfish with a highly elliptic body that slightly changes with age and size, and it is prone to accumulating malformations during the production cycle. The present study aims to investigate the genetic parameters of two growth traits (weight and standard length) and six shape quality predictors (ellipticity, three body heights (body height at the pectoral fin base [BHP], body maximum height [BMH] and caudal peduncle height [CPH]) and two ratios (BMH/BHP and BMH/CPH)). These traits were measured before the on-growing stage (age ~400 days (d)) and at harvest (~800 d). Phenotypic data, heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations between the traits are presented and discussed. High or very high heritabilities (0.433–0.774) were found for growth traits, body heights and ellipticity and they were higher at 400 than 800 d. In contrast, the ratios of BMH/BHP and BMH/CPH were less heritable (0.144–0.306). Positive and very high (>0.95) correlations between growth traits and the three heights were found and decreased with age. In contrast, ellipticity had negative and medium-high genetic correlations with growth traits and heights, indicating fish selected for bigger size would also become rounder. The ratio of BMH/CPH showed low genetic correlations with all traits and provided complementary information to ellipticity for a better fitting to the expected lanceolate body morphology of sole. The genetic correlations for all traits at both ages were very high, indicating that selection before entering the growth-out stage in recirculation aquaculture systems is recommended to accelerate genetic gains.
Highlights
Flatfish is a general name for a diverse group of highly appreciated species worldwide, both in fisheries and aquaculture
ANOVA analysis showed statistically significant differences associated with the gender, evaluation batches (EBs) and Amoebic disease (AD) (Figure 2 and Figure S1) for both traits
Significant differences associated with the EB (p < 0.05) were found that ranged between 18.9 and
Summary
Flatfish is a general name for a diverse group of highly appreciated species worldwide, both in fisheries and aquaculture. They are morphologically unique among fishes due to their body asymmetry, which is acquired after the migration of one eye to the opposite side and the cranium remodeling in early larval stages. This process, known as metamorphosis, entails a drastic reorganization of the abdominal cavity, skin pigmentation patterns and the development of sensory structures for the adaptation to a bottom-dwelling mode of life. Due to the high relevance of external morphology on commercialization, the production of high-quality shaped fish is highly important in aquaculture to enhance consumers’ awareness and support their perception of fish aquaculture products [3]
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