Introduction of the Peruvian scallop and its hybridization with the bay scallop in China

Abstract

This study describes the first introduction of the Peruvian scallop, Argopecten purpuratus (P), from Peru to China. Reciprocal hybridization was carried out between the newly introduced Peruvian scallops and the bay scallops, A. irradians irradians (I). Morphological and molecular evidence indicated that the derived offspring were true hybrids between the two Argopecten scallops. At larval stages, when cultured at 23 °C, the growth rates of the hybrid cohorts were not different from that of the inbred bay scallop group but significantly higher than that of the Peruvian scallops. The survival rate of the A. purpuratus ♀ × A. irradians ♂ (P♀ × I♂) cohort was higher than those of both inbred cohorts but the A. irradians ♀ × A. purpuratus ♂ (I♀ × P♂) cohort survived better than the bay scallop cohort only. Significant maternal effects were noted on growth rate but not on survival rate. Mating strategy and its interaction with egg origin had significant effects on both growth and survival rates. During the adult grow-out stage, the survival rates of the hybrid cohorts were not different from that of the bay scallops but were much higher than that of the Peruvian scallops. The growth rates in both shell height and whole body weight in the hybrid cohorts were much higher than those of the inbred bay and Peruvian scallop cohorts. Compared with the bay scallops, the production traits in the hybrid cohorts were increased by 125.9–138.9% in whole body weight and by 145.4–156.2% in adductor muscle weight. Thus, although it may not be feasible to culture the Peruvian scallops at a large scale in China, hybridizing the Peruvian scallops with bay scallops may be a very effective way in increasing scallop production in China.