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Title: Production of genetically defined perch broodstocks and their selection for fast growth

Author
item GOETZ, FREDERICK - Water Institute
item ROSAUER, DANIEL - Water Institute
item GRZYBOWSKI, MIKE - Water Institute
item BINKOWSKI, FRED - Water Institute
item Shepherd, Brian

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/9/2015
Publication Date: 10/9/2015
Citation: Goetz, F.W., Rosauer, D.R., Grzybowski, M., Binkowski, F.P., Shepherd, B.S. 2015. Production of genetically defined perch broodstocks and their selection for fast growth. Chapter 6.4. In: Patrick Kestemont and Konrad Dabrowski, Eds. "Biology and Culture of Percid Fishes – Principles and Practices". Springer Press. p. 691-697.

Interpretive Summary: In 2004, a broodstock improvement program was initiated with the aim of developing defined geographic strains of yellow perch that have been selected for improved growth. Based upon results from a region-wide (U.S. East Coast to Midwest) population survey, four geographic strains were chosen for genetic improvement. Fertilized egg ribbons were collected from spawning adults from the Choptank River (Chesapeake Bay, MD), the Perquimans River (Albemarle Sound, NC), Flambeau Lake (Lac du Flambeau, WI) and Lake Winnebago (Fond du Lac, WI). Due to poor reproductive performance and slow growth, the Lac du Flambeau and Winnebago strains were discontinued. By early 2011, the third generation (F3) of select Perquimans River and Choptank River broodstock strains were selected. As a result of two generations of selection, the time needed for each strain to reach market size has been reduced from 14 months to ~8.5 months in these two strains. However, there still exists substantial size and performance variation within each population, which is attributed to differential growth between males (slower growing) and females (faster growing). This book chapter describes the present status of the F3 yellow perch broodstocks and covers some strategies to reduce size variation, increase genetic gain for growth, and improve overall productivity within these genetically-improved broodstocks.

Technical Abstract: The restrictions and closures of commercial freshwater fisheries in North America, coupled with continued high consumer demand, have fueled interest in yellow perch aquaculture. However, the general slow growth of this species and the lack of commercially available genetically improved broodstocks have impeded yellow perch aquaculture production. A yellow perch broodstock program has been established at the University of Wisconsin Great Lakes Wisconsin Aquatic Technology and Environmental Research Institute in collaboration with the USDA Agricultural Research Service. The goals of this program have been to initiate development of genetically defined perch broodstock strains from several North American geographic regions, characterizing their growth, embryonic development, and reproduction, and to select these stocks to obtain faster-growing fish broodstock strains. This chapter describes: 1) the genetic analysis used to define wild yellow perch populations across North America, from which broodstocks could potentially be derived, 2) development and characterization of perch broodstocks from three geographic regions of North America, and 3) selection of these stocks for enhanced growth and the heritability of that growth.