Genetic parameters of growth and sexual maturity in Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus)

Abstract

A factorial mating system was used to study the contribution of additive genetic, non-additive genetic and maternal effects on the variation in weight, length, condition factor, specific growth rate and the incidence of sexual maturation in the Arctic char reared at two locations. Genetic correlations between characters and between locations were also studied. Additive genetic effects on length and weight estimated from the sire component of variance ranged from 0.25 to 0.62 and for sexual maturity from 0.19 to 0.45. Maternal effects and non-additive genetic effects were low on all characters compared with additive genetic effects. Genetic correlations between weight, length and condition factor were positive and high. Low positive genetic correlations between sexual maturation incidence and growth characters were found at one location and high but negative correlations at the other location. Specific growth rates of fish during October–May in different years were positively correlated. Growth rate during May–October was found to correlate poorly to the preceding October–May growth rates.