A preliminary evaluation on culture performance of first selective generation of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) "Changdang Lake 1" during adult culture stage

The first generation (G1) of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) named "Changdang Lake 1" Strain A (body mass of female parent is more than 200 g) and B (body mass of female parent is more than 250 g) have been obtained. In previous study, G1 showed better growth and culture performance in juvenile crab culture stage, but the performance of adult crab culture is still unclear. Therefore, the difference of growth, survival rate, yield, average mass and size distribution were systematically compared among Strain A, Strain B and unselected groups. The results show that: 1) In middle and later stages of culture (September−November), the average body mass of two breeding groups was slightly higher than that of the control group, and that of Strain B female was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). In addition, the weight gain rate and specific growth rate (SGR) of Strain B were significantly higher than those of Strain A from May to July (P<0.05). 2) The puberty molting rate and hepatosomatic index of male in the two selected groups were slightly lower than those in the control group. The hepatopancreatic index of Strain B was significantly lower and higher than those of the other two groups on October 20 and November 15, respecitively. 3) The proportion of large-sized crabs (male≥195 g, female≥120 g) in male and female of two breeding groups was higher than that of the control group, among which only G1 male of Strain B (195−219.9 g) was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). Besides, the final average body mass, survival rate, yield and feed conversion rate of the two selected strains were higher than those of the control group. Above all, "Changdang Lake 1" strain A is characterized by high survival rate, yield and feed conversion rate, while Strain B is characterized by high proportion in large-size and great final average body mass.