Freshwater Pearl Culture Technology Development in India

ABSTRACT

Development of science and technology of cultured pearl production in a freshwater environment in India is described. Distribution of Indian pearl mussels, pond mussel Lamellidens marginalis, paddy field mussel L. corrianus, and riverine mussel Parreysia corrugata in relation to environmental variables such as type of soil, nature of sediment substratum, presence or absence of macrophytes (Eichhornia sp., Nechamandra sp., andNymphaea sp.) is described. Food and feeding of the mussels, together with density aspects in culture conditions are discussed. Mussel breeding including specificity in fish hosts, and mussel larval parasitic relationships are discussed. Basic steps involved in indigenous freshwater pearl culture technology are summarized. Pearl culture grafting procedures such as mantle cavity, mantle tissue and gonadal implantation along with different pearl products are also described.

Key Words:

• Pearl culture
• freshwater mussels
• India