Giant Freshwater Prawn Population Research Articles

Assessment of a long-term selective breeding program for giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii since 2007

Effects of long term selection for improved growth on traits of commercial interest are generally not well documented in aquaculture species, specifically in giant freshwater prawn (GFP) Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The present study analysed a total of 106,756 data records collected from a pedigreed GFP population over nine years (2007–2015) or nine generations (including base population) to evaluate genetic progress achieved for body weight and to examine correlated genetic changes in measurements of body dimensions (carapace length, abdominal length, carapace width and abdominal width), as well as fitness related traits (early maturity, EM and small blue claw male, SM). Linear mixed model fitting the random effects of individual prawn and common full-sib groups and the fixed effects of generation, line, pond by generation subclass, morphotypes for each sex and a linear covariate of grow-out day was used to analyse growth-related traits, whereas threshold logistic animal model was applied to binary data (EM and SM). The heritabilities were moderate for body weight and measurements of body dimensions (10 to 60%), but the estimates for EM and SM were low (0.13 ± 0.06 and 0.08 ± 0.01, respectively). The proportion of variance explained by the common full-sib effects was only 5–7% for measurements of body traits (weight and body dimensions). Genetic correlations among body traits were high and positive (0.93–0.97). These body traits however showed negative (i.e. favourable) genetic correlations with both EM and SM. Direct genetic gain for body weight and correlated changes in measurements of body dimensions and fitness related traits (EM and SM) were measured as differences in estimated breeding values (EBVs) between the selection line and control group within the same generation. The accumulative genetic gain in body weight after eight generations was 56%, averaging 7% per generation. Selection for high growth, however, did not have detrimental effects on measures of body dimensions and fitness related traits (i.e. EM and SM). In comparison to one of the founder stocks collected from Mekong river, the selection line had 50% greater body weight under the same testing environment in the latest generation 2015. Our findings provide information to refine the current breeding program to simultaneously improve traits of commercial interest in this important aquaculture species M. rosenbergii.

Quantitative genetic changes in reproductive performance of giant freshwater prawn after 10 years of selection for increased growth rate.

Effect of long-term selection for improved growth on reproductive performance of giant freshwater prawn (GFP) Macrobrachium rosenbergii has not been reported in the literature. The present study aimed to measure correlated responses in reproductive traits and to estimate genetic parameters for these characters in a GFP population selected for high growth over ten generations from 2007 to 2016. A total of 959 breeding females (offspring of 515 sires and 810 dams) had measurements for seven reproductive traits (weight before spawn WBS; weight after spawn WAS; Fecundity FEC or number of larvae per female at hatching; first age to reach post-larvae PLAGE; zoea (e) weight ZOEAWT; larval survival during hatchery phase SURV1 and survival from PL to tagging SURV2. The restricted maximum likelihood (REML) and mixed model analysis were used to estimate genetic parameters and evaluate selection responses for the seven traits studied. Our REML analysis showed that heritability for these traits ranged from 0.04 to 0.42 (SE: 0.19-0.28). Female body weight either before or after spawning had strong positive phenotypic correlations with fecundity (0.52-0.98). By contrast, the phenotypic correlations of WBS/WAS with larval and fry survivals were not significant (-0.08-0.05). Genetic correlations among fecundity-related traits studied were not different from zero due to their high standard errors. Correlated responses in reproductive traits were measured by comparing least squares means of the selection line and control group. Females of the selected line for high growth had significantly greater weight before or after spawning than that of the control group. There were, however, no statistical differences between the two lines in the other traits. It is concluded that selection for high growth did not have detrimental impact on reproductive performance of breeding females in the present population of GFP.

Effects of selection for fast growth on survival rate during grow-out phase in giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

BackgroundCorrelated genetic response in survival to selection for high growth has not been reported in giant freshwater prawn (GFP) (Macrobrachium rosenbergii). The main aim of this study was to measure genetic changes and estimate heritability for this character (survival rate) and its genetic associations with body traits in a GFP population selected over eight generations from 2008 to 2015. Statistical analyses were conducted on 106,696 data records, using threshold logistic mixed model.ResultsThe estimated heritability for survival was 0.14 ± 0.04 and significant. Genetic associations of survival with body traits (weight, length and width) were weak, with the estimates of genetic correlations between the traits close to zero. Realised genetic changes in survival, calculated as the difference in estimated breeding values between the selection line and control group within the same generation, was in positive direction but the estimates were not significantly different from zero regardless of the expression unit used either in actual unit of measurement or genetic standard deviation unit. On the other hand, communal testing of stocks in the latest generation, namely G7 (2015), showed that the selection line had 18% higher survival rate than progeny of the wild prawns originated from Mekong river. This result suggests that inadvertent changes in survival occurred during domestication-selection.ConclusionsIt is concluded that selection for high growth had no significant effect on survival in the present population of M. rosenbergii.

Are female reproductive status and male morphotypes of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii altered by selection for high growth?

Understanding genetic changes in the hierarchical population structure of the giant freshwater prawn (GFP) Macrobrachium rosenbergii is important to improve productivity and profitability of prawn farming. We examined correlated responses in male morphotype and female reproduction status resulting from a selection programme for high growth in a GFP population undergoing four generations of selection. Two contemporary lines (selection and control) were maintained and produced simultaneously; the selection line was selected for high breeding values for harvest body weight and the control for average breeding values of the population. A total of 21,459 individual prawns were measured for body traits and morphotypes. Individual morphotype was recorded as a binary trait (0 and 1) and were analysed using a generalised threshold mixed model with a logit link function. Correlated genetic changes in three important male morphotypes (small, orange and blue claw males) were significant (p < 0.05–0.001) only in generation 2010 but not in the last generation (2012). Selection for high growth did not have an adverse effect on reproduction status of females, except that the selection line had a greater proportion of spawned females than the control (p = 0.01). Our results pointed out that selection for high growth may have had both positive and negative impacts on the social population structure of male morphotypes in GFP. Undesired changes in important morphotypes should be taken account of in genetic improvement programmes for GFP in order to minimise social competition effects and increase total biomass and consequently economic returns of the sector.

Genetic diversity of the cultured giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in China based on microsatellite markers

The Giant freshwater prawn (GFP), Macrobrachium rosenbergii, is one of the most important crustacean species cultured in China, but information on the genetic diversity of GFP in China is still limited. In this study we analyzed the genetic diversity of 6 cultured GFP populations collected in China, and 2 wild populations from Viet Nam. The wild populations were included as a reference so that the genetic diversity of the introduced cultured GFP populations could be evaluated. We used six polymorphic primer pairs to estimate genetic diversity. Results showed that the number of alleles per locus ranged from 6 to 19. The mean observed heterozygosity (0.364 ± 0.090) was less than the expected heterozygosity (0.893 ± 0.016); highly significant deficiencies in heterozygotes were detected (100%). The polymorphism information content (PIC) of 8 populations at 6 loci was greater than 0.5 (varying from 0.616 to 0.912). Pair-wise genetic differentiation (FST) varied from 0.006 to 0.129 among the eight populations. The dendrogram based on genetic distance showed six populations distributed on the same major branch, suggesting that they have closely genetic distance and two populations (ZJC and GDB) distributed on the other branch, so they also have closely genetic distance. The results of study provide a baseline assessment of genetic diversity in some populations in China and Viet Nam that will be useful for the development of breeding programmes in the future.

Genetic Inheritance of Female and Male Morphotypes in Giant Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Giant freshwater prawn (GFP) Macrobrachium rosenbergii is unique with males categorized in five different morphotypes (small claw, orange claw, blue claw, old blue claw and no claw males) and females in three reproductive statuses (mature ovary, berried and spawned females). In the present study we examined genetic inheritance of female and male morphotypes, their body weights and genetic associations between morphotypes and body traits. Restricted maximum likelihood fitting a multi-trait animal model was performed on a total of 21,459 body records collected over five generations in a GFP population selected for high growth rate. The estimates of variance components showed that there were substantial differences in additive genetic variance in body weight between male morphotypes. The low and significantly different from one genetic correlations between the expressions of body weight in male morphotypes also suggest that these traits should be treated as genetically different traits in selective breeding programs. By contrast, body weights of female types are essentially the same characters as indicated by the high genetic correlations between homologous trait expressions. In addition to body weight, male morphotypes and female reproductive statuses were treated as traits in themselves and were analysed as binary observations using animal and sire linear mixed models, and logit and probit threshold models. The estimates of heritability back-transformed from the liability scale were in good agreement with those obtained from linear mixed models, ranging from 0.02 to 0.43 for male morphotypes and 0.06 to 0.10 for female types. The genetic correlations among male morphoptypes were generally favourable. Body weight showed negative genetic associations with SM (−0.96), whereas those of body weight with other male morphotypes were positive (0.25 to 0.76). Our results showed that there is existence of heritable (additive genetic) component for male morphotypes, giving prospects for genetic selection to change population structure of GFP.

EFFECT OF INBREEDING ON MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS OF POPULATIONS OF GIANT FRESH WATER PRAWN, Macrobrachium rosenbergii: IMPLICATIONS FOR SELECTIVE BREEDING

Genetic improvement through selective breeding relies on the genetically-controlled phenotypic variability in the character of interest. Therefore, the extent of phenotypic variability in the population to be selected is an important parameter, as it potentially influences the population’s response to selection. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of inbreeding on the survivability, growth, and phenotypic variability of giant freshwater prawn (GFP), Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Two GFP populations of different inbreeding levels, namely 25% and 0%, respectively, were formed by mating of individual broodstock with known pedigree. Study was conducted for two months starting from newly hatched larvae up to nursery stage (30 day-old post larva). Phenotypic variability profile, expressed in the morphometric mean and coefficient of variation (CV) of twenty one morphometric characters were measured and evaluated. Results showed that in general, the inbred populations had lower values in the mean of all characters (100%), indicating that they suffered from inbreeding depression. Similarly, a lower CV values were observed in sixteen (75%) of the morphometric characters measured, indicating a potential reduced of genetic gain when they are used in selective breeding program. These results suggest the importance of controlling inbreeding level in breeding population that adverse effects resulted resulted from inbreeding can be minimized.

Modeling meat yield based on measurements of body traits in genetically improved giant freshwater prawn (GFP) Macrobrachium rosenbergii

A single-generation dataset consisting of 1,730 records from a selection program for high growth rate in giant freshwater prawn (GFP, Macrobrachium rosenbergii) was used to derive prediction equations for meat weight and meat yield. Models were based on body traits [body weight, total length and abdominal width (AW)] and carcass measurements (tail weight and exoskeleton-off weight). Lengths and width were adjusted for the systematic effects of selection line, male morphotypes and female reproductive status, and for the covariables of age at slaughter within sex and body weight. Body and meat weights adjusted for the same effects (except body weight) were used to calculate meat yield (expressed as percentage of tail weight/body weight and exoskeleton-off weight/body weight). The edible meat weight and yield in this GFP population ranged from 12 to 15 g and 37 to 45 %, respectively. The simple (Pearson) correlation coefficients between body traits (body weight, total length and AW) and meat weight were moderate to very high and positive (0.75–0.94), but the correlations between body traits and meat yield were negative (−0.47 to −0.74). There were strong linear positive relationships between measurements of body traits and meat weight, whereas relationships of body traits with meat yield were moderate and negative. Step-wise multiple regression analysis showed that the best model to predict meat weight included all body traits, with a coefficient of determination (R 2) of 0.99 and a correlation between observed and predicted values of meat weight of 0.99. The corresponding figures for meat yield were 0.91 and 0.95, respectively. Body weight or length was the best predictor of meat weight, explaining 91–94 % of observed variance when it was fitted alone in the model. By contrast, tail width explained a lower proportion (69–82 %) of total variance in the single trait models. It is concluded that in practical breeding programs, improvement of meat weight can be easily made through indirect selection for body trait combinations. The improvement of meat yield, albeit being more difficult, is possible by genetic means, with 91 % of the variation in the trait explained by the body and carcass traits examined in this study.

THE APPLICATION OF RAPD FINGERPRINTING TO ASSESS INBREEDING LEVELS IN THE CULTURED POPULATIONS OF GIANT FRESHWATER PRAWN, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Inbreeding has been one of central issues with regard to genetic quality of aquaculture species, including giant fresh water prawn (GFP). Conventional methods for the estimation of inbreeding level are available, such as pedigree analyses which requires a good pedigree record which, unfortunately, is rarely available. Likewise, microsatellite molecular markers commonly applied to obtain the coefficient inbreeding estimates are both laborious and expensive. Hence, an alternative method of inbreeding assessment which is relatively easy but reliable is in need. This study was aimed to explore the applicability of RAPD fingerprinting, which is known to be simple and affordable, to estimate inbreeding level of GFP population. Three GFP populations namely inbred, outbred, and farm populations with inbreeding level of 25%, 0%, and unknown, respectively, were genotyped using five polymorphic RAPD primers. The inbreeding levels mentioned within the first two populations were determined using pedigree analysis. RAPD banding patterns were then used to calculate band sharing index (BSI) and inbreeding coefficient (F). Assessment of the applicability of inbreeding level estimates obtained by RAPD markers was performed by comparing them to those estimated by pedigree analysis. Results show that RAPD fingerprinting was capable of delineating populations differing in their inbreeding coefficients. The pattern resulted from molecular inbreeding coefficient within the inbred and outbred groups, was congruent with that shown by pedigree analysis, while the farm population showed closeness to the inbred group. While the accuracy of the estimate needs to be verified further, this study suggests that RAPD fingerprinting is applicable to estimate population inbreeding level, particularly due to its technical simplicity and cost affordability.

RANDOMLY AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA (RAPD) FINGERPRINTING OF SIX INDONESIAN POPULATIONS OF GIANT FRESHWATER PRAWN, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Indonesia is rich of giant fresh water prawn (GFP) germ plasms. Best utilization of these resources for the purpose of either aquaculture development or conservation of genetic resources requires some information on the structure and levels of their genetic diversity. This study was aimed to characterize those GFP genetic resources by applying RAPD genetic markers. Six Indonesian populations of GFP from Asahan, Barito, Ciasem, Ogan, GImacro and Papua were collected and analyzed for their genetic variation using five RAPD primers. The results showed the diversity within the populations, as revealed by the level of polymorphism, ranged from 29% to 76% while genetic divergence between populations as shown by genetic distance ranged from 0.04 to 0.50. In terms of genetic divergence, two genetically distinct groups of GFP, namely the Papua GFP in one group and the remaining five GFP populations in the other, were identified. The results also showed the presence of specific population markers that are useful for genetic identification of GFP populations. Implication of these finding with regard to breed development is discussed.

Isolation, characterization and evaluation of microsatellite DNA markers in giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, from South India

Six microsatellite loci were identified, characterized and evaluated from the ‘western’ form of wild Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The microsatellite regions identified were (GA/CT) 38, (CA/GT) 13, (GA/CT) 44, (GA/CT) 26, (GA/CT) 35 and (GA/CT) 33 repeats respectively. To study polymorphism in the microsatellites, PCR primers were designed for the flanking region and further tested on genomic DNA from wild M. rosenbergii samples collected from 2 different regions. The total number of alleles for the two different giant freshwater prawn populations was found to be 18 and 19 respectively. The average PIC value for these six microsatellite markers was found to be 0.70 indicating their very high level of polymorphism. The direct count heterozygosity values for these marker loci during multi-population analysis range from 0.4093 to 0.7035. F st values showed significant differentiation between the tested two populations. The populations were found to be in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, but one microsatellite loci was found to be deviated from HWE in both populations. One microsatellite loci MRMA27 in one population exhibited the presence for a null allele. The results indicate that these six microsatellite loci are highly polymorphic and can be used as genetic markers for M. rosenbergii populations.