Quality Trait Signature at Archipelago Scale of the Cultured Pearls Produced by the Black-Lipped Pearl Oyster (Pinctada margaritiferaVar.cumingi) in French Polynesia

Abstract

ABSTRACT In French Polynesia, the aquaculture of Pinctada margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758) covers a large maritime exploitation area, spread over nearly 20 degrees latitude and longitude, with numerous pearl farms located in three archipelagos (Gambier, Society, and Tuamotu). As these archipelagos have specific seasonal temperature patterns each year, pearl oysters are subject to disparate and contrasting environmental regimes. This study aimed to examine the specificity of commercial pearl quality traits (n = 2,236 samples) at the archipelago scale, in such a way as to provide preliminary data to design the most appropriate strategy for the distribution of hatchery-produced phenotypes. A large and standardized grafting experiment using the same donor phenotype was designed and carried out over six grow-out locations, covering the three archipelagos. Results revealed significant differences in commercial pearl quality traits among archipelagos, giving these groups of growing sites distinctive “signatures”: ...