Genet. Sel. Evol. 36 (2004) 643-661
DOI: 10.1051/gse:2004022

Enhanced individual selection for selecting fast growing fish: the "PROSPER" method, with application on brown trout (Salmo trutta fario)

Bernard Chevassus^a, Edwige Quillet^a, Francine Krieg^a, Marie-Gwénola Hollebecq^a, Muriel Mambrini^a, André Fauré^b, Laurent Labbé^b, Jean-Pierre Hiseux^a and Marc Vandeputte<sup>a

a</sup>  Laboratoire de génétique des poissons, Institut national de la recherche agronomique, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, France
^b  Station expérimentale mixte Ifremer-Inra, BP 17, 29450 Sizun, France

(Received 10 October 2003; accepted 30 June 2004)

Abstract - Growth rate is the main breeding goal of fish breeders, but individual selection has often shown poor responses in fish species. The PROSPER method was developed to overcome possible factors that may contribute to this low success, using ([see full textsee full text]) a variable base population and high number of breeders ( Ne >100), ([see full textsee full text]) selection within groups with low non-genetic effects and (3) repeated growth challenges. Using calculations, we show that individual selection within groups, with appropriate management of maternal effects, can be superior to mass selection as soon as the maternal effect ratio exceeds 0.15, when heritability is 0.25. Practically, brown trout were selected on length at the age of one year with the PROSPER method. The genetic gain was evaluated against an unselected control line. After four generations, the mean response per generation in length at one year was 6.2% of the control mean, while the mean correlated response in weight was 21.5% of the control mean per generation. At the 4th generation, selected fish also appeared to be leaner than control fish when compared at the same size, and the response on weight was maximal ( 130% of the control mean) between 386 and 470 days post fertilisation. This high response is promising, however, the key points of the method have to be investigated in more detail.

Key words: Salmo trutta / selective breeding / aquaculture / genetics / individual selection

Correspondence and reprints: mvande@jouy.inra.fr

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2004