A Review of Sexual Determination and Differentiation in Crustacean

Abstract

The prerequisite for monosex culture is to elucidate the molecular mechanism of sex determination and differentiation in crustaceans, as well as to explore the key genes that play a role in this process. Monosex culture technology based on crustacean economic species is of great importance in terms of genetic breeding and economic benefits of aquaculture. As a result, study into the mechanisms of sex determination and differentiation in crustaceans not only contributes to the current absence of basic theories of crustacean sexual mechanism, but also encourages technical innovation in aquaculture to increase overall economic efficiency. This study synthesizes and evaluates available research on sex determination and differentiation in crustaceans, and then provides recommendations for future research objectives and priorities in the field.

A refined roadmap to decapod sexual manipulation

“…Additionally, methyl‐farnesoate induced an all‐male stock in the water flea Daphnia magna when administered at high concentrations 69 . Moreover, temperature, salinity, light and other factors have proven to impact some crustaceans' sex determination and differentiation 23 . Cold shock induces triploidy and changes the sex ratio in P. monodon , 70 while photoperiod influences the sex ratio in Gammarus deubeni 71 …”

“…40 Since the successful establishment of monosex populations in M. rosenbergii, the same AG/iag manipulation approach has been attempted in economically significant penaeid shrimps, prawns, crabs, crayfish and spiny lobsters, to no avail. 20,21 An iag was reported in many decapods 23 and likely many more will be identified through databases such as crustybase.org, 41 and yet there is no report of monosex having been achieved in any species other than M. rosenbergii. Once the information for a particular species is available concerning which sex is preferred for production of a monosex population, there are various technical aspects to consider.…”

“…69 Moreover, temperature, salinity, light and other factors have proven to impact some crustaceans' sex determination and differentiation. 23 Cold shock induces triploidy and changes the sex ratio in P. monodon, 70 while photoperiod influences the sex ratio in Gammarus deubeni. 71 Another promising pathway to successful sexual manipulation includes genome editing in crustaceans.…”

“…Furthermore, discovering the sex‐determination mechanisms of various species, which ultimately translates into sexual differentiation, highlights a vital role for the AG. Recent reviews have highlighted the important role of IAG as a sex differentiating factor, 22 and putative upstream factors such as the master sex determination genes 23 . This review seeks to clarify the key aspects to consider when assessing whether AG or iag manipulation could lead to sex change in any given decapod species.…”

“…Recent reviews have highlighted the important role of IAG as a sex differentiating factor, 22 and putative upstream factors such as the master sex determination genes. 23 This review seeks to clarify the key aspects to consider when assessing whether AG or iag manipulation could lead to sex change in any given decapod species.…”