Improving genetic quality of cultivated aquatic species under a breeding program: Case study of first generation (G1) population of red tilapia (Oreochromis spp)

Abstract

A body weight based selection protocol is the most common practice in the genetic improvement programs for aquaculture species. It might be one of the criteria to be considered in the aquatic resources management scheme. This experiment aimed to evaluate the genetic enhancement of selected first-generation (G1) of red tilapia. Fish were bred under fullsib mating design at hapa of 2×2 m2. The communal growing out of fingerlings was carried out in an earthen pond for 120 days. The stocking density of fingerlings was 7 fish per m2. Fish were fed with commercial floating fish feed at a rate of 5-10% of biomass twice a day. The results showed that the population of males and females of red tilapia in the first generation (G1) grew faster than the previous generation (G0). The selection response values were 19.52 % and 12.05 % for male and female populations, respectively. The heritability values in male and female red tilapia populations were in the medium category with a value of 0.33 and 0.25, respectively. The results showed that the breeding program increased the genetic quality of fish in terms of body weight based growth in the first generation of red tilapia.