Comparative Analysis of Growth Characteristics Between Hybrid F1 by Epinephelus moara (♀)  Epinephelus septemfasciatus (♂) and the Offspring of Their Parents

Abstract:

To study the effects of artificial farming conditions on the growth parameters such as the body length, body weight, growth index, and condition factor, the F1 hybrid of E. moara (♀)  E. septemfasciatus(♂) and its parents at 10 to 14 months old were used for the current study. The optimal growth equations of three groups based on the growth model were established. The results showed that the order of body length and body length growth index from high to low was E. moara (♀)  E. septemfasciatus(♂), E. moara, and E. septemfasciatus, and the hybrid F1 had obvious heterosis in body length. The order of cumulative growth of body weight among 10−11 months and 13 months from high to low was E. moara (♀)  E. septemfasciatus(♂), E. septemfasciatus, and E. moara. The order of body weight and body weight growth index from high to low was E. moara, E. septemfasciatus, and E. moara (♀)  E. septemfasciatus(♂). E. moara had the fastest increment in body weight, and had faster weight growth rate than others after 10 months. The best condition factor was observed in E. septemfasciatus among 10−14 months, and hybrid F1 was the second. E. moara had the lowest degree in the coefficient of variation and the heredity was stable. The current study indicated that the hybrid F1 grew fastest in body length among three groups and grew fastest in body weight before 11 months old, and that the growth of body weight of E. moara was faster than others after 11 months old. Hybrid F1 had a significant heterosis in growth among 14 months. The growth of E. moara was isometric and the growth of E. septemfasciatus was allometric.