Abstract
This work describes the gametogenic cycle of the scallop Nodipecten nodosus kept in a culture system. To this end, during one year, samples were taken from the broodstocks every 30 days to be submitted to macroscopic and microscopic analyses and to measure the amount of astaxanthin. To perform the microscopic evaluation, 5 micro slices from the median portion of the female part of the gonad were submitted to the pattern methodology for histological analyses with paraffin and HE coloration. The remaining portion of the female gonad was lyophilised to extract and quantify the levels of astaxanthin using HPLC. The microscopic analyses revealed four well defined stages for the reproductive cycle. Analyses of data taken throughout the year indicated preferential spawning periods from December to January and from July to September. The astaxanthin analyses showed higher amounts of this carotenoid during the advanced pre-spawning and the initial spawning periods than during gametogenesis, initial pre-spawning, advanced spawning, and the spent stages. According to these results, it was possible to establish a descriptive table of the sexual stages of the female portion of the gonad and the amount of astaxanthin in the sexual stage of the scallop Nodipecten nodosus.
Highlights
The world production of pectens, a bivalve mollusks, in 2007, was 12,616,738 t, generating 11,740,962 dollars (FAO, 2009).Along the Brazilian coast, the Pectinidae family is represented by 4 genera and 14 species (Rios, 2009)
Almost all scallops consumed in Brazil come from abroad; this is the main reason why the study of its biology, reproductive cycle, culture and other factors are of great importance for its production
Lubet (1959), identified several different phases of the reproductive cycle of bivalve molluscs through the observation of histological sections of the gonad. Repeating this analysis for N. nodosus, we identified different phases of gonad maturation, described later in this paper
Summary
Along the Brazilian coast, the Pectinidae family is represented by 4 genera and 14 species (Rios, 2009). Of these 14 species, Nodipecten nodosus (Linné, 1758) stands out as a species of economic value in Brazil. The high market price is another factor that is of interest for culture. Scallops have been offered in sophisticated Brazilian restaurants and all around the world, including in haute cuisine. Almost all scallops consumed in Brazil come from abroad; this is the main reason why the study of its biology, reproductive cycle, culture and other factors are of great importance for its production
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