Jesse A. Chappell

Paternal predominance in reciprocal channel-blue hybrid catfish

Abstract The male parent of interspecific crosses between blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus , and channel catfish, I. punctatus had controlling influence on several growth patterns. Paternal predominance was considered to exist if the external appearance or if the values for morphometric, meristic, or behavioral traits for one hybrid were statistically different from its reciprocal hybrid and more similar to its male parent than its female parent. Paternal predominance was also considered to exist when a mean for one hybrid was not different from that of its male parent, and a mean for the male parent was statistically different from that of the reciprocal hybrid. The external appearance, swim bladder shape, and anal fin ray number of hybrids were more nearly that of their male parents than their female parents. Paternal predominance was also evident in both growth and morphometric uniformity. Further, susceptibility to capture by seine was influenced more by the male parent than the female parent.

Relative Harvestability by Angling of Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, and Their Reciprocal Hybrids

Abstract One hundred and eighty-seven each of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, and their reciprocal hybrid crosses were stocked communally in a 0.1-hectare pond (7,480 fish/hectare) in April 1977. Each group was heat-branded prior to stocking for subsequent identification. The fish were grown for 181 days, after which the pond was fished for 35 man-hours (350 man-hours/hectare) on October 16 and 17. The pond was drained on October 19 and the remaining fish were harvested. A total of 290 kg (518 fish) was harvested by fishing and draining. Seventy-five (14.5%) of the fish were caught by the anglers in the two days. The hybrids were more susceptible to angling than the parent species. Heterosis for catchability was 158.6% by number and 203.6% by weight of fish caught. Channel catfish ♀ x blue catfish ♂ hybrids were more catchable than the reciprocal hybrids. Average length of all fish that were caught was greater than for those that were not caught. Fishing success in ...

Aquaculture genomics, genetics and breeding in the United States: current status, challenges, and priorities for future research

Advancing the production efficiency and profitability of aquaculture is dependent upon the ability to utilize a diverse array of genetic resources. The ultimate goals of aquaculture genomics, genetics and breeding research are to enhance aquaculture production efficiency, sustainability, product quality, and profitability in support of the commercial sector and for the benefit of consumers. In order to achieve these goals, it is important to understand the genomic structure and organization of aquaculture species, and their genomic and phenomic variations, as well as the genetic basis of traits and their interrelationships. In addition, it is also important to understand the mechanisms of regulation and evolutionary conservation at the levels of genome, transcriptome, proteome, epigenome, and systems biology. With genomic information and information between the genomes and phenomes, technologies for marker/causal mutation-assisted selection, genome selection, and genome editing can be developed for applications in aquaculture. A set of genomic tools and resources must be made available including reference genome sequences and their annotations (including coding and non-coding regulatory elements), genome-wide polymorphic markers, efficient genotyping platforms, high-density and high-resolution linkage maps, and transcriptome resources including non-coding transcripts. Genomic and genetic control of important performance and production traits, such as disease resistance, feed conversion efficiency, growth rate, processing yield, behaviour, reproductive characteristics, and tolerance to environmental stressors like low dissolved oxygen, high or low water temperature and salinity, must be understood. QTL need to be identified, validated across strains, lines and populations, and their mechanisms of control understood. Causal gene(s) need to be identified. Genetic and epigenetic regulation of important aquaculture traits need to be determined, and technologies for marker-assisted selection, causal gene/mutation-assisted selection, genome selection, and genome editing using CRISPR and other technologies must be developed, demonstrated with applicability, and application to aquaculture industries. Major progress has been made in aquaculture genomics for dozens of fish and shellfish species including the development of genetic linkage maps, physical maps, microarrays, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, transcriptome databases and various stages of genome reference sequences. This paper provides a general review of the current status, challenges and future research needs of aquaculture genomics, genetics, and breeding, with a focus on major aquaculture species in the United States: catfish, rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, tilapia, striped bass, oysters, and shrimp. While the overall research priorities and the practical goals are similar across various aquaculture species, the current status in each species should dictate the next priority areas within the species. This paper is an output of the USDA Workshop for Aquaculture Genomics, Genetics, and Breeding held in late March 2016 in Auburn, Alabama, with participants from all parts of the United States.Advancing the production efficiency and profitability of aquaculture is dependent upon the ability to utilize a diverse array of genetic resources. The ultimate goals of aquaculture genomics, genetics and breeding research are to enhance aquaculture production efficiency, sustainability, product quality, and profitability in support of the commercial sector and for the benefit of consumers. In order to achieve these goals, it is important to understand the genomic structure and organization of aquaculture species, and their genomic and phenomic variations, as well as the genetic basis of traits and their interrelationships. In addition, it is also important to understand the mechanisms of regulation and evolutionary conservation at the levels of genome, transcriptome, proteome, epigenome, and systems biology. With genomic information and information between the genomes and phenomes, technologies for marker/causal mutation-assisted selection, genome selection, and genome editing can be developed for applications in aquaculture. A set of genomic tools and resources must be made available including reference genome sequences and their annotations (including coding and non-coding regulatory elements), genome-wide polymorphic markers, efficient genotyping platforms, high-density and high-resolution linkage maps, and transcriptome resources including non-coding transcripts. Genomic and genetic control of important performance and production traits, such as disease resistance, feed conversion efficiency, growth rate, processing yield, behaviour, reproductive characteristics, and tolerance to environmental stressors like low dissolved oxygen, high or low water temperature and salinity, must be understood. QTL need to be identified, validated across strains, lines and populations, and their mechanisms of control understood. Causal gene(s) need to be identified. Genetic and epigenetic regulation of important aquaculture traits need to be determined, and technologies for marker-assisted selection, causal gene/mutation-assisted selection, genome selection, and genome editing using CRISPR and other technologies must be developed, demonstrated with applicability, and application to aquaculture industries.Major progress has been made in aquaculture genomics for dozens of fish and shellfish species including the development of genetic linkage maps, physical maps, microarrays, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, transcriptome databases and various stages of genome reference sequences. This paper provides a general review of the current status, challenges and future research needs of aquaculture genomics, genetics, and breeding, with a focus on major aquaculture species in the United States: catfish, rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, tilapia, striped bass, oysters, and shrimp. While the overall research priorities and the practical goals are similar across various aquaculture species, the current status in each species should dictate the next priority areas within the species. This paper is an output of the USDA Workshop for Aquaculture Genomics, Genetics, and Breeding held in late March 2016 in Auburn, Alabama, with participants from all parts of the United States.

Economic Feasibility of an In-Pond Raceway System for Commercial Catfish Production in West Alabama

AbstractOur objective was to improve profitability of catfish farming by demonstrating methods to achieve high levels of survival, feed performance, and efficiency in a commercial farm setting. During 2007, a commercial-scale in-pond raceway system (IPRS) was constructed in a 6.0-acre earthen pond on a catfish farm in west Alabama. The IPRS consisted of six raceways, each stocked with uniform-sized Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus or hybrid catfish (Channel Catfish × Blue Catfish I. furcatus). Co-cultured fish species (Paddlefish Polyodon spathula and Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus) were stocked and harvested in the outside area of the pond containing the IPRS. Results from the 2008 production season were used to project 12 months of production from stocking either Channel Catfish or hybrid catfish in the IPRS. In addition, Channel Catfish production in traditional ponds was monitored from 2005 to 2009 on the same farm (∼430 water-acres). The 8-month IPRS results were compared with (1) the 12-month...

Growth of Tomato Seedlings in Commercial Substrate Amended With Dewatered Aquaculture Effluent

Dewatered aquaculture effluent (AE) could replace portions of commercial potting mix for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedling production. In two separate experiments, tomato, cv. Bolseno, seedling growth responses were evaluated when a commercial potting mix was amended with 0%–75% of AE (v/v) and fertigated with a water-soluble, complete inorganic fertilizer. In Experiment 1, differences existed for seedling plant height, leaf area, leaf dry matter, stem dry matter, and total dry matter 2 weeks after transplanting. Plant growth parameters decreased when AE was ≥25% container volume due to suboptimal physical and chemical properties of the substrate. In Experiment 2, commercial potting mix replaced with 5% AE improved plant height, leaf area, leaf dry matter, stem dry matter, and total dry matter by 26%, 124%, 87%, 75%, and 83%, respectively, compared to the control. Plants grown in substrates with 10% and 15% AE had greater plant height and leaf area compared to the control, whereas other growth parameters were similar to the control. Dewatered aquaculture effluent could amend a commercial potting mix at quantities ≤15% (by volume) for production of greenhouse-grown tomato seedlings.

Overwintering Yellow Perch Fry in Alabama

Abstract Wild harvests of yellow perch Perca flavescens have failed to keep up with the strong market demand for the fish. Moreover, yellow perch has many attributes that make it attractive for commercial aquaculture in the USA. One drawback to yellow perch culture in the north-central region of the United States is that low winter water temperatures inhibit somatic growth. In this study, yellow perch juveniles were stocked at three densities (30, 60, and 90 per tank) in 600-L tanks in Auburn, Alabama, in early January and maintained throughout the winter until mid-April. Water in the tanks was circulated through an earthen pond and returned to the research system by means of a water pump. Tanks were aerated by means of submersible air diffusers and a regenerative air blower. Fish were offered a commercial, slow-sinking feed at 5% of body weight, and temperature was measured hourly by a remote data logger. Survival was greater than 99% in all treatments. When water temperature was below 20°C, absolute gro...

Salt Level in a Simulated Aquaponic System and Effects on Bibb Lettuce

ABSTRACT Aquaponics is the integration of plant and fish production where byproducts of one system are used as an input for the other. In an integrated system of tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) and Bibb Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), it is a common practice to add salt (NaCl) to the water to ease stress on fish. This study was undertaken to determine the tolerance of hydroponic Bibb lettuce to various chloride concentrations from addition of NaCl to the hydroponic solution. In Experiment 1, lettuce plants were grown hydroponically in 6-L buckets with standard hydroponic fertilizer and NaCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 500 mg·L−1 chloride. Approximately 30 days after transplanting, at maturity, plants were not adversely affected by any of the treatments. In Experiment 2, NaCl treatments ranged from 0 to 20,000 mg·L−1. Treatments of NaCl concentrations over 5000 mg·L−1 chloride were lethal to lettuce. Adverse effects were seen at concentrations above 2000 mg·L−1. With increasing worldwide fish–vegetable aquaponic systems, producers should monitor and be aware of salt thresholds from the fish system and the resulting effect on the vegetable crops.

Research Verification of Production Practices Using Intensive Aeration at a Hybrid Catfish Operation

AbstractAquaculture research verification programs are designed to demonstrate and test research-based practices recommended by extension services on commercial-scale operations. From 2010 to 2013, in western Alabama, three management protocols were followed over three crop cycles on a farm producing hybrid catfish (female Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus × male Blue Catfish I. furcatus) using high levels of aeration. The protocols were an owner-defined, multiple-batch treatment and single-batch and multiple-batch treatments defined by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES). Results from nine production cycles were analyzed to calculate yields, feed conversion ratios (FCRs), cost of production, and net returns. Over three production cycles the owner-defined, multiple-batch treatment outperformed the two ACES-recommended treatments in terms of yield, survival, FCR, and net returns. The owner-defined treatment could vary, and the producer chose to feed above the recommended daily maximum and obs...