Quantitative analysis of black blotching in a crossbred red tilapia and its effects on performance traits via a path analysis methodology

Author(s)

Lago, Aline de Assis ^{[1, 2]} ; Reis-Neto, Rafael Vilhena ^{[3, 4]} ; Rezende, Tiago Teruel ^[5] ; da Silva Ribeiro, Mayra Cristina ^[1] ; Fonseca de Freitas, Rilke Tadeu ^[1] ; Silva Hilsdorf, Alexandre Wagner ^{[1, 6]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Lavras, Dept Anim Sci, Lavras, MG - Brazil

^[2] Fed Inst Educ Sci & Technol Baiano, Campus Santa Ines, Santa Ines, Bahia - Brazil

^[3] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Aquaculture Ctr, Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

^[4] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Registro, SP - Brazil

^[5] Jose do Rosario Vellano Univ UNIFENAS, Agr Sci Ctr, Alfenas, MG - Brazil

^[6] Univ Mogi das Cruzes, Unit Biotechnol, Mogi Das Cruzes, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF APPLIED GENETICS; v. 60, n. 3-4, p. 393-400, NOV 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Red tilapia is a phenotype with potential value to the tilapia industry due to its attractive skin coloration. However, the presence of black blotches scattered on the body makes these fish less valuable than blemish-free red fish. The correlation between the degree of blotching and other economic traits is important for selective breeding programs including high-performance red fish without black blotches. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude and direct and indirect effects of blotching in crossbred red tilapia on the growth rate and body measure traits using path analysis methodology. Six genetic groups were evaluated in terms of body measurements, body weight rate, and proportion of black blotching over 250 days of growth: Chitralada and Red-Stirling; crossbred F1-female Red-Stirling x male Chitralada and female Chitralada x male Red-Stirling, and the introgressive crossbreeding-female CR x male Chitralada and female Chitralada x male CR (C x CR). All variables showed high and positive linear correlations. Individuals with black blotches had lower coefficients of correlation with other variables (body weight and measurements); the direct and indirect effects are near zero. The path analysis indicated a lack of genetic correlation between the degree of black blotches and the economic traits of red tilapia. This facilitates the development of high growth performance red fish with blotched-free reddish skin. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/23752-2 - Quantitative and molecular evaluation of a continuous crossbreeding system using Oreochromis niloticus Chitralada and red stirling strains
• Grantee: Alexandre Wagner Silva Hilsdorf
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants