Inheritance of size as estimated by principal component analysis at two temperatures in Penaeus vannamei

Abstract

Five species of penaeid shrimp are being considered for mariculture production in the southern United States. Four of these, Penaeus aztecus, P. setiferus, P. stylirostris, and P. vannamei, are the subject of an investigation of genetic differentiation among wild stocks using the electrophoretic technique. Preliminary results indicate a low level of genetic variation and little geographic differentiation within species. The implication of these findings for the creation of a foundation population for the selective breeding program is discussed.Many questions have resulted from the initial efforts to employ a quantitative criterion in the selection of future broodstock from pond-reared adults. One response has been morphometric studies to evaluate other possible selection criteria. Several morphological measures are identified as potential selection criteria and discussed with regard to the handling necessary to make each measurement and the correlation between these measurements and tail weight.An overview of the penaeid mariculture methodology used in Texas is presented as a justification for a program using mass selection rather than other methods to improve tail weight grow-out.