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Effects of Fertilization Method and of Selection for Body Weight and Species on Fertilization Efficiency of Channel Catfish Eggs with Blue or Channel Catfish Sperm
Author(s) -
Dunham Rex A.,
Bart Amrit N.,
Kucuktas Huseyin
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
north american journal of aquaculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.432
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1548-8454
pISSN - 1522-2055
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8454(1999)061<0156:eofmao>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - catfish , ictalurus , human fertilization , biology , sperm , zoology , semen , fishery , botany , agronomy , anatomy , fish <actinopterygii>
Abstract Two experiments were conducted in an effort to optimize artificial fertilization of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. In one experiment, three fertilization procedures were compared to optimize artificial fertilization of channel catfish eggs with sperm from blue catfish I. furcatus. The drip method simulated the natural fertilization of catfish eggs. The mixed method was a wet method that used an extender, and the third procedure was a decanted method. The drip method of fertilization produced a significantly lower ( P < 0.05) fertilization percentage (30%) than the mixed method (69%) or the decanted method (57%). The mixed method is recommended because it is the easiest and the most efficient of the three methods. In the second experiment, the effects of selection for body weight and species on efficiency of artificial fertilization were evaluated. The Kansas strain, the oldest domestic strain of channel catfish, was selected for increased body weight over three generations; this selection resulted in a 30% increase in growth rate. Select and random Kansas strain channel catfish females were ovulated using carp pituitary extract. Their eggs were stripped, separated in two lots, and then fertilized with channel catfish (same genotype as the female) or blue catfish sperm. Fertilization percentages (55–62.7%) were not significantly different ( P > 0.05). Three generations of selection for body weight did not decrease fertility in Kansas channel catfish when artificial procedures were used. No adverse correlated response to selection for body weight was observed. Interspecific and intraspecific crosses did not have different fertilization percentages.