Genetic parameter estimates for growth traits at early stage of Pacific abalone,Haliotis discus hannai Ino

Heritability and genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated for juvenile growth traits of Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino. The estimates were calculated from shell length and shell width measurements on progeny resulting from 12 half-sib families and 36 full-sib families obtained using artificial fertilization of mating three females to each male. The measurements were taken at 10, 20 and 30 d after fertilization. It was found that heritability estimates based on sire component ranged from 0.23 to 0.36 for shell length and 0.21 to 0.32 for shell width. Heritability estimates from dam component were larger than those from sire component at three ages, indicating presence of maternal effects, non-additive genetic effects and common environmental effects. Phenotypic correlations were significant at three ages （P 〈 0.05）, with values of 0.92, 0.93 and 0.92, respectively. Genetic correlations from the paternal half-sib correlation analysis were highly positive at three ages, with values of 0.50, 0.78 and 0.81, respectively. The results suggest that selective breeding is an effective approach to improving growth traits of Pacific abalone stocks.

Experimental evaluation of heterobeltiosis and heterosis between two populations of Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino

A2 × 2 factorial cross between two populations of Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino, collected separately from Dalian （D） in China and Miyagi （M） in Japan, was conducted to compare performances in fertilization rate, hatching rate, metamorphosis rate and growth at days 20, 43, 160 and 330 between purebreds （DD and MM） and crossbreds （DM and MD） and investigate the magnitude of heterobeltiosis （better parent） and heterosis （mid-parent）. Heterobeltiosis and heterosis for all the traits analyzed were evidently different between crossbreds DM and MD. Heterobeltiosis in the crossbred DM varied among traits, with values of 2.5% for the fertilization rate, 2.2% for the hatching rate, - 1.9% for the metamorphosis rate and 7.4% for the growth at the day 330. The crossbred DM displayed positive heterotic values for fertilization rate （5.4%）, hatching rate （7.4%）, metamorphosis rate （7.6%） and growth （ 12.0% ） at the day 330. However, both heterobeltiosis and heterosis for all the traits in the crossbred MD were negative except those for the growth at days 20 and 43. The results indicate the importance of selecting superior hybrid varieties if the exploitation of hybrid vigor is considered in the Pacific abalone breeding program.

Growth of eight Pacific abalone families at three temperatures

Growth rates, measured as shell length and body weight daily growth, were studied in the eight families of Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai Ino, reared at 12, 16 and 20 ℃for 40 d respectively. The results show that J1Rh family grew the best at 12 ℃, with growth rates of (32.88±4.66) μm/d and (5.24±1.84) mg/d. C1Jm family had the highest growth rates of (58.00±2.00) μm/d and (9.71±1.21) mg/d at 16 ℃. J1Jm family ranked the first at 20 ℃, with growth rates of (66.00±1.76) μm/d and (10.99±0.34) mg/d. RjRh family had the slowest growth rates at all three temperatures. Shell length growth rates were 18.25, 33.00 and 43.13 μm/d respec- tively, while body weight growth rates were 2.47, 2.56 and 4.75 mg/d respectively. Both temperature and family had significant effect on growth rates (P< 0.05). At 16 and 20 ℃, maternal effects on growth rates were not significant (P> 0.05), but paternal effects on growth rates were significant (P< 0.05). Results of this study indicate genetic difference among the families and importance of select- ing male breeders in the commercial hatchery.