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Do maternal age and experience contribute to better growth, survival and disease resistance of offspring in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)?

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Abstract

Maternal age has influence on growth and survival of offspring in number of species, perhaps through enhanced immune system and overall fitness. We measured weight, survival and disease resistance from a total 100 Atlantic cod full-sib and half-sib families: 44 second generation (F2) and 66 third generation (F3) families produced using 2- or 3-year-old parents, respectively. Larval survival and growth in families produced by 3-year-old parents were 78 % higher and 36 % heavier, respectively, compared to larvae from 2-year-old parents. Irrespective of parental age, negative correlation was observed between larval survival at 85 days and tagging weight at 180 days. Disease challenge tests of juveniles with nodavirus revealed significantly higher (p < 0.001) survival in offspring from older parents, but no significant difference (p > 0.365) was observed for Vibrio anguillarum challenge test. It seems that age of broodfish possibly determines the growth, survival and disease resistance during early developmental stages in Atlantic cod, and this can play an important role in selective breeding programs.

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Abbreviations

F2:

Second generation

F3:

Third generation

YC:

Year Class

NCBC:

National Cod Breeding Center

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

dph:

Days post-hatch

VNN:

Viral nervous necrosis

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Acknowledgments

We thank staff of the National Cod Breeding Center (NCBC) for their help in maintaining the fish. This work is supported by the funding from the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs of Norwegian Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nofima AS, Muninbakken 9-13, 9291, Tromsø, Norway

    Øyvind J. Hansen, Velmurugu Puvanendran & Rama Bangera

Authors
  1. Øyvind J. Hansen
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  2. Velmurugu Puvanendran
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  3. Rama Bangera
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Correspondence to Velmurugu Puvanendran.

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Hansen, Ø.J., Puvanendran, V. & Bangera, R. Do maternal age and experience contribute to better growth, survival and disease resistance of offspring in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)?. Aquacult Int 23, 1157–1164 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-014-9872-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-014-9872-5

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