Genetic Characterization and Early Life Culture Performance Evaluation of Four Ghanaian Populations of Tilapia Guineensis (Pisces; Cichlidae)
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Date
2004-07
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University of Ghana
Abstract
Genetic characteristics of four populations of the cichlid Tilapia guineensis were studied
using allozyme (starch gel) electrophoresis and early life culture performance
characterization to generate information on genetic structure and characteristics of major
culture performance traits during early life of the species. Samples of the fish populations
were collected from three freshwater reservoirs: (i) the Volta reservoir at Kpong, (ii) the
Okye-Aminsa reservoir at Akotogua and (iii) the Ayensu reservoir at Okyereko; and a
coastal open lagoon of the Volta system at Aglorkpovie. Observed heterozygosity (Ho)
and polymorphism (P) of allozymes as indices of genetic diversity were relatively low in
Akotogua (Ho = 0.077; P = 0.077) and Aglorkpovie (Ho = 0.077; P = 0.077) populations
compared to those of Kpong (Ho = 0.308; P = 0.089) and Okyereko (Ho = 0.462; P =
0.087) populations. Early life culture performance characteristics of populations
evaluated over 84 days showed significantly higher final mean length, weight gain and
condition factor in Akotogua populations compared to growth characteristics of
Aglorkpovie and Kpong populations. Results suggest that heterozygosity and
polymorphism might be important in determining culture performance traits.
Additionally, high genetic diversity did not confer high culture performance
characteristics on the early life of the fish. The biochemical genetic structure and growth
characteristics observed in Akotogua population identify it as a population with a
potentially better early life culture performance that could be used by culturists for
improvement of T. guineensis in aquaculture.
Description
Thesis(M.Phil)-University of Ghana,2004.