Abstract:In the present study, Fenneropenaeus chinensis were fed artificial diets supplemented with different concentrations of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB: 0, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0% and 10.0%) during the grow-out and spawning period. The goal was to investigate the effects of PHB on the reproductive performance of parental shrimps and thereafter the development of the larval F. chinensis. This study used the single factor concentration gradient method. After 192 days, the mortality rate, relative immune protectionrate (RPS), weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate, gonadal development cycle, fecundity, the number of nauplii hatched and the timing of various stages of metamorphosis were compared. The results indicated that the PHB had mixed effects on the fecundity of parental shrimps and growth performance of larva. Compared with control group, with the increase of PHB concentrations, the mortality rate of the experimental groups exhibited downward trend followed by increases. By contrast, the RPS had an opposite trend, with the lowest mortality rate in 2.0% PHB group; and the differences were significant compared to other groups (P<0.05) except for the 1.0% PHB group (P>0.05). The WGR of all the PHB supplemented groups was higher than the control group. Specifically, the WGR of the group supplied with 2.0% PHB was significantly higher than groups supplied with 0 and 5.0% PHB (P<0.05). But there was no significant difference in the gonadal development cycle among all groups (P>0.05). Fecundity and the number of nauplii hatched in the experimental groups were higher than the control group, but the significance was only found in the group supplemented with 2.0% PHB (P<0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the timing of the various stages of metamorphosis among all groups. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the PHB supplement could improve the fecundity and larval development in F. chinensis with the best dietary PHB concentration of 2.0%.
