Genetic parameters of survival in four generations of Indian white shrimp (Fenneropeneaus indicus)

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the genetic variance for survival at harvest of Indian white shrimp (Fenneropenaeus indicus) using a pedigreed synthetic population generated upon collecting broodstock from different fishery grounds in Egypt. The estimated heritabilities (h² ± SE) of survival from generations G₀ to G₃ ranged from 0.144 ± 0.026 to 0.008 ± 0.030 using a model that included the common environmental effect (c²). Low heritability (0.014 ± 0.015) was estimated across generations with the inclusion of common environmental effect (c²). However, the h² of survival from G₀ to G₁ ranged from 0.569 ± 0.071 to 0.410 ± 0.011 when c² was not included. The genetic correlation for survival between different ponds from G₀ to G₃ was moderate to high (0.79 ± 0.042 to 0.83 ± 0.012) but significantly different (P < 0.05). There were low correlation coefficients (−0.237 ± 0.089 to 0.316 ± 0.073) between body weight estimated breeding value (EBV) and survival EBV of families in four generations.

KEYWORDS:

• Fenneropenaeus indicus
• Indian white shrimp
• survival
• growth
• heritability
• selective breeding

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thanks Dr. F. C. Thomas Allnutt, BrioBiotech, LLC, Glenelg, Maryland, USA, for reviewing the manuscript and providing us with valuable comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Science & Technology Development Fund (STDF), Egypt, under Grant No. 5661.