Genetic variation for growth at one and two summers of age in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.): Heritability estimates and response to selection

Abstract

We estimated the heritability of growth-related traits (weight and length at ages one summer, first spring and two summers) in a synthetic mirror carp strain (HSM) in the Czech Republic. The four generation pedigree was obtained from parentage assignment of three factorial mating designs with microsatellite markers, and included 195 fish without phenotypes (48 G0, 147 G1) and 1321 fish with phenotypes (674 G2, 647 G3). Animal model heritability estimates over generations were in the range 0.21-0.33 for length and in the range 0.31-0.44 for weight. The genetic correlation between length and weight was high (0.97). The correlations between growth measurements in the first and in the second summer of age were moderate to low (0.34-0.67). Divergent selection for length at two summers of age was performed on G2 fish, and response to selection was evaluated by comparing the offspring of the selected sires in G3, in a communal test where genetic groups were identified by microsatellite parentage assignment. The response to upwards selection was moderate and indicated a realized heritability value of 0.24 to 0.34. No response to downwards selection was observed. We conclude that although selection for growth seems to be feasible in common carp, it would be a longterm process before results are visible.

Quantitative trait loci for morphometric traits in multiple families of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

“…In contrast with heritability, correlation estimates were seldom conducted for common carp. Basically, it focused on body weight and standard length traits, which generally varied from 0.52 to 0.98 for genetic correlation, and 0.54 to 0.97 for phenotypic correlation (Vandeputte et al, 2008;Wang, 2009). In the present study, the correlations among morphometric traits were also relatively strong and similar to the results for growth-related traits reported by Wang et al (Wang et al, 2006).…”

Quantitative genetic estimates of growth-related traits in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.): A review

“…Furthermore, realized heritability evaluation was also occasionally used in the common carp (Ankorion et al, 1992). It is remarkable that molecular pedigree (e.g., microsatellite marker technology) has been recently used to evaluate the genetic parameters (Vandeputte et al, 2004(Vandeputte et al, , 2008Kocour et al, 2007). This method is not influenced by common environmental effects and thus ensures the reliability of the genetic parameters evaluated.…”

Changes in the proximate and fatty acid composition in carp meat during the semi intensive farming

“…Generally, under the same farming conditions, feed rich in n-3 fatty acids greatly increases the n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio in the fi sh tissue (Robin and Skalli, 2007;Al-Souti et al, 2012). However, the lipid content and fatty acid composition of fi sh can differ within species depending on a variety of conditions, including gender, the state of the ecosystem inhabited by the fi sh, and the environmental conditions (Źmijewski et al, 2006;Vandeputte et al, 2008;Prato and Biandolino, 2012). Some other factors such as water temperature and its quality, the type and the availability of food, the season, age, and individual differences can infl uence these variations, as well (Rasoarahona et al, 2004;Guler et al, 2008;Trbović et al, 2009).…”