Age-dependence of cultured pearl grade and colour in the black-lipped pearl oyster<i>Pinctada margaritifera</i>

Ky, Chin‐Long; Demmer, Jonathan; Blay, Carole; Lo, Cédrik

doi:10.1111/are.12938

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…For overall cultured pearl grade, an archipelago signature appeared in favor of Gambier, where the highest rate of good quality pearls was found in comparison with Tuamotu and Society. This was in accordance with the significantly higher proportion of green pearls harvested in Gambier (+56% in comparison with other archipelagos) and evidence from previous studies demonstrating a positive correlation between this color and higher pearl grade (Ky et al 2014b), including for animals of the same age (Ky et al 2015f ). Pearl grade is based on the evaluation of surface defects and lustre.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Quality Trait Signature at Archipelago Scale of the Cultured Pearls Produced by the Black-Lipped Pearl Oyster (Pinctada margaritiferaVar.cumingi) in French Polynesia

Okura

Nakasai

et al. 2016

Journal of Shellfish Research

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In French Polynesia, the aquaculture of Pinctada margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758) covers a large maritime exploitation area, spread over nearly 20 degrees latitude and longitude, with numerous pearl farms located in three archipelagos (Gambier, Society, and Tuamotu). As these archipelagos have specific seasonal temperature patterns each year, pearl oysters are subject to disparate and contrasting environmental regimes. This study aimed to examine the specificity of commercial pearl quality traits (n ¼ 2,236 samples) at the archipelago scale, in such a way as to provide preliminary data to design the most appropriate strategy for the distribution of hatchery-produced phenotypes. A large and standardized grafting experiment using the same donor phenotype was designed and carried out over six grow-out locations, covering the three archipelagos. Results revealed significant differences in commercial pearl quality traits among archipelagos, giving these groups of growing sites distinctive ''signatures'': (1) more color, less circles, and higher overall pearl grade in Gambier; (2) larger size with paler pearls in Tuamotu; and (3) darker pearls with intermediate size in Society. Characteristic differences in the environment and seasonal temperature ranges among the three archipelagos, corresponding to their distinct environmental conditions, can explain the specific variations between pearl quality traits among the sites. The strong disparities at archipelago scale should be taken into account in selective breeding programs for P. margaritifera so as to choose the most appropriate pearl oyster donor phenotype for use in each environment and thus enhance site-specific qualities for pearl production.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Quality Trait Signature at Archipelago Scale of the Cultured Pearls Produced by the Black-Lipped Pearl Oyster (Pinctada margaritiferaVar.cumingi) in French Polynesia

Okura

Nakasai

et al. 2016

Journal of Shellfish Research

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“…Recipient oysters might regulate the expression of biomineralization genes in the pearl sac and this could explain the weak difference between donor age categories for pearl sac expression levels. We confirmed results reported by Ky et al [ 31 ] where 2-year-old graft cells improved pearl grade, predominantly through a higher proportion of zero surface defects.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Despite existing knowledge about donor and recipient roles on pearl quality traits, only one previous study examined the effects that the age of donor oyster might have on pearl grade, lustre, surface defect and color. The study found that pearls produced from 2 year old donors were significantly better quality than those produced by 5 year old donors [ 31 ]. No study has examined the impact of using a younger donor oyster (< 2 years old) and the age effect on cultured pearl size.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimal age of the donor graft tissue in relation to cultured pearl phenotypes in the mollusc, Pinctada margaritifera

Blay¹,

Planes²,

Ky³

2018

PLoS ONE

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Ageing is defined as the progressive decline in tissue and organ functions over time. This study aims to evaluate the ageing effect on cultured pearl quality phenotypes (including size and quality traits) in the graft-recipient animal model: Pinctada margaritifera. For this, eight uniform grafting experiments were designed using two hatchery-produced pearl oyster families as donors, which were followed through time, between 7 and 30 months in age. For each age category, 20 donors were studied for each culture site giving a total of 2400 grafted oysters. Several phenotypic measurements were made: 1) donor family growth performance from shell size records, 2) pearl size and corresponding quality traits, and 3) expression of some genes related to biomineralization processes on both the mantle graft and on pearl sac tissues. Results showed that: 1) donor age has an impact on pearl size, with grafts coming from the youngest donors yielding the biggest pearls; and 2) grafts from donors between 12 and 18 months in age produced pearls of the highest quality (grade and surface quality), a result supported by an analysis where the level of expression for a panel of genes associated with biomineralization was greatest in donors within the 12 to 18 months age group. These results indicate that donors aged between 12 and 18 months have high potential for biomineralisation and nacre deposition, and likely produce larger and higher quality cultured pearls than older donors.

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“…A nacre deposition rate threshold may exist for a culture site, but also for the age of the donor oyster used as saibo, and age of the recipient oyster, as in the present experimental graft, where donors used in RRR site were younger than those used in the GMR site. Age influence on cultured pearl quality traits has been already examined in Ky et al, 2017c. In this last study, a duplicated graft experiment allowed the comparison of donor oyster families at 2 and 5 years old, where saibo (from middle mantle section) was inserted into recipient oysters aged 2.5 years old.…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in cultured pearl quality traits in relation to position of saibo cutting on the mantle of black-lipped pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera

Nakasai²,

Parrad

et al. 2018

Aquaculture

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Cultured pearl production from Pinctada margaritifera uses the biomineralization capacities of the mantle graft, the saibo, which is usually obtained from only the middle mantle section of the donor oyster. To evaluate the potential for using other parts of the mantle, this study explores and describes the cultured pearl quality traits, pearl size, shape, surface defects and colour parameters obtained with saibo from the entire length of the mantle, comprising the four following sections: 1) posterior, 2) connection with the gills, 3) middle, (the section usually used commercially), and 4) anterior. Rates of nucleus retention and oyster mortality were also recorded and compared between sections. For this, two experimental grafts were designed and conducted in two contrasting culture sites, using 10 selected wild donor oysters in each to perform a total of 1536 grafts. Mantle section comparison revealed that the anterior section was different from the three other sections, showing: 1) the lowest nacre deposition rate in terms of weight and thickness, 2) the palest pearls, with lowest rate of the attractive overtone colour and the 3) a lower rate of pearls with lustre. For pearl circles and shape, no difference was recorded among the different mantle sections. Posterior, connection and middle sections showed similar pearl quality traits, revealing how the number of high quality saibo obtainable from the same batch of donors can easily be increased, thus benefitting the P. margaritifera pearl industry. This finding could provide significant benefits to pearl farmers and the further development of current pearl grafting practices. Highlights ► Pearl quality traits variations were for the first time explored using all saibo position from the four mantle sections. ► The posterior and connection zone could be used to produce pearls with similar pearl quality traits as the middle section. ► The number of saibo obtainable from rare colourful wild donors could be increase.

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Age-dependence of cultured pearl grade and colour in the black-lipped pearl oysterPinctada margaritifera

Cited by 13 publications

References 32 publications

Quality Trait Signature at Archipelago Scale of the Cultured Pearls Produced by the Black-Lipped Pearl Oyster (Pinctada margaritiferaVar.cumingi) in French Polynesia

Quality Trait Signature at Archipelago Scale of the Cultured Pearls Produced by the Black-Lipped Pearl Oyster (Pinctada margaritiferaVar.cumingi) in French Polynesia

Optimal age of the donor graft tissue in relation to cultured pearl phenotypes in the mollusc, Pinctada margaritifera

Variation in cultured pearl quality traits in relation to position of saibo cutting on the mantle of black-lipped pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera

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