Abstract:
Selective breeding were performed on the base populations of
Oreochromis mossambicus and
O.
hornorum respectively, and F
4 generations were produced and evaluated. Compared with control group, the daily growth rate of F
4 of
O.
mossambicus and
O.hornorum was improved by 27.96% and 36.73% (
P < 0.05), and the average selection response per generation was 6.99% and 9.18%, while variation coefficient of body weight was reduced by 24.83% and 36.33% over the control group, respectively. At the first sex maturity, the mean body weight of the selected group F
4 was increased more than two times of the control group respectively, and their hybrids
O.
mossambicus ♀ (XX) ×
O.
hornorum ♂ (ZZ)had high and stable male rate. All these results showed that selection response of the two kinds of tilapia is remarkable, and the individual growth rate was turned to be consistent in the selected population. It also indicated that there are still some selection potentials in F
4 generations, and it is feasible to proceed with selective breeding for growth of the two kinds of tilapia.