ALBERT

Description: Two water bodies of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea located in the South of Iran and different vertebrate aquatics inhabiting there consist of fishes (Osteichthyes and Chondricthyes), marine mammals, sea snakes and reptiles. A total of 860 fish species belongs to 31 orders and 142 families have been identified and reported. Amongst them, some important species have been studied from point of molecular genetics and population genetics such as croaker, silver pomfret, cobia, sardines, lanternfishes…. . On the other hand, from marine mammals a total of 10 species of dolphins, 14 species of whales and one species of dugong were identified.Also, 9 species of sea snakes have been reported from the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea belongs to 6 genus and 2 subfamilies of Hydrophidae family. It should be mentioned that no genetic studies have been done on marine mammals and sea snakes till now. In addition, a total of 5 species of sea turtles have been reported from the study area and there are few background on genetic studies for main species in the Persian Gulf.

Description: Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute

Description: Published

Description: The fishery stocks of most commercial aquatic stocks in the world have shown declining trends in the past two decades. Several factors have been responsible for the decline of stocks the most important of which over fishing and over-exploitation, pollution, loss of natural habitats and natural spawning grounds, construction of dams and bridges across the important rivers which restrict the migratory routes of spawners, decrease in natural reproduction and rehabilitation of stocks through artificial breeding programs. Over-exploitation of stocks and pollution directly affect decreasing stocks in an ecosystem. Not differentiating between different populations and stocks of a species found distributed in an aquatic ecosystem is considered one of the main factors which causes the depletion of stocks in most ecosystems in the world. In most cases this is because genetic variations in aquatic stocks in the wild are not taken into consideration. Six species of sturgeons are found living in the Caspian Sea and its drainage basin which produce more than 85-90% of the world caviar. The Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) and the stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) are the main sturgeon species of the Caspian Sea. The Persian sturgeon is mainly found in the south Caspian Sea while the stellate sturgeon stocks are considered shared stocks by the five Caspian littoral states. Due to over fishing in the past two decades the legal catch figures for sturgeon stocks in the Caspian Sea dropped from 28500 tons in 1985 to less than 1500 tons in 2004. Similarly caviar production also dropped from 3000 tons to 110 tons in 2005. With regard to the severe reduction in sturgeon stocks it is necessary to take essential steps before these valuable species are totally wiped out. The fisheries management of the five Caspian littoral states should focus their efforts on identifying the different populations and stocks found in the Caspian Sea. Concerted measures should be taken to study the distribution and biomass of the different populations in order to develop a scientific solution for the sustainable use of these endangered species and to secure the long term conservation of sturgeon stocks. The aim of present study was to evaluate the genetic structure of the population of two species Acipenser persicus and Acipenser stellatus and to develop molecular markers to identify and differentiate different populations of these two species.

Description: Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute

Description: Published

Description: Several factors cause decline in aquatic stocks. They could be listed as, irregular fishing, damaging aquatic habitats, dam constraction, sand explotation from river bed, oil pullution, industrial, agricultural and domestic pullotion. To overcome such condition, the hatcheries are constracted to produce fingerlings for stock enhancement, new species introduction and biodiversity preservation. This study with economical look, could present a developing policy for increasing the productivity and breeding procedure of sturgeon in Iran, which needs a huge investment. Over the years 2001-2002, to determine the costs of production of a single sturgeon fingerling in Iran, two questionnaires were prepared. An expert trained team comprising of economist, statistician and aquaculturist completed the questionnaire, while reffering all sturgeon centers. For more accuracy, they reffered to documents available in different sections of Shilat, specially, accounting, budgeting and stock enhancement offices. Among various expenditures, cost of labour with 55% and 56% and costs of feed and fertiliser with 14% and 10% have the greatest share, maintenance with 7% and 8% and fertilization eggs with 6% were the important factors. Results shaw, an average cost of production of a single sturgeon fingerling in Iran, was Rls. 992, and Rls. 937 over the 2001-2002. Shahid Rajaee center, had the lowest cost of production of Rls. 477 and Rls. 471 and Shahid Beheshty had the highest cost of production of Rls. 1224 and Rls. 1438 among the all sturgeon breeding centers. The cost of labour had a great share in total expenditures, it could be justify by unactivity of centers during almost 6 months off season, which could be reduced by adopting extra activities such as production of broodstocks, caviar and market-size sturgeon fish in hatcheries.

Description: Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute

Description: Published

Description: Based on an agreement between Jahad Nasr Hamzeh Company as "the employer" and the Iranian Fisheries Research Organization as "the executor", a project entitled “culture of Huso huso up to 10 kg" was conducted. A total of 600 Huso huso with the average weight of 5000 g were distributed in four 50 m2 circular concrete tanks (4 diameters) with the density of 25 kg/m2 . The experimental system was equipped with aeration. Dissolved oxygen concentration was maintained at 6-7 mg/l. Fish were fed experimental diets composed of 43% protein, 22 % lipids, 16.2% carbohydrates and 22 MJ/kg energy for 12 months. At the end of the first rearing phase (365 d), fish with the mean specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratios (FCR) of 0.27 and 2.91, respectively reached a weight of 9.06 kg. The highest growth parameters and the best FCR were recorded in spring and autumn. The mean body weight increase (BWI %), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in these seasons were estimated at (0.48, 0.36 % per day), (27.4, 20.13 % during the rearing period) and 1.85 and 1.74, respectively. Results obtained from this project revealed that Huso huso is a prospective candidate for intensive culture in concrete tanks and these results can be developed in many parts of the country.

Description: Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute

Description: Published

Description: The Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) is more abundant sturgeon species in the South Caspian Sea and consist the highest proportion of Iranian Caviar, meat as well as bringing maximum foreign currency income, however from systematic point of view and differentiation of this species from Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstadttii) a serious challenging issues remain, where some Russian scientist are believe that the Persian sturgeon is not as an valid species and consider it as a subspecies of Russian sturgeon. This research conducted with the objective of identification and introducing a molecular marker based on specific DNA for differentiation of two species of Persian sturgeon and Russian sturgeon via a proved molecular marker method. For this purposes 8 different molecular approaches such: Microsatellite, AFLP, RAPD, sequencing of Cytb, 16sDNA, ND5, Growth Hormone gene and finally Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) were investigated. Based on applied methodology, between 5 to 16 caudal fin tissues were sampled for each species from different region of the Caspian Sea, Sefiedrud River, Ural and Volga rivers. Following DNA extraction, its quality and quantity were determined and the PCR experiment has been conducted using 5-110 primers according to various methods and type of gene. The PCR products were electrophoresed on Polyacrilamid or agarose gels and followed by silver and Ethidium Bromide staining. In RAPD method, polymorphic DNA band was cut on the gel followed by purification and then the segments were cloned in vector in Top10 strain of E.coli, and then sequenced. Meanwhile for Growth Hormone gene in Persian and Russian sturgeon the MEGA 4, Gene runner software were used to design the appropriate primers for PCR amplification. The PCR products were cloned in PTZ57R/T vector and transformed in Top10 E.coli strain and sequenced finally. For all other genes, similar methods were applied for PCR amplification and its products were sequenced and statistical analysis as well as phylogenetical tree was performed. In Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) method, after genomic library construction, in total 14.4 billion nucleotides were sequenced and similarity/ differentiation analysis of two species were investigated using specific bioinformatic software. Results indicated that Microsatellite and AFLP methods showed high level of genetic variation both within and between species. The Cytb gene, when 4 sample sequences from each species were compared two species were differentiated, however when analysis repeated over 15 samples, the sequence comparison couldn't differentiate two above mentioned species. Full sequence comparison of 16sDNA and mtDNA-ND5 gene showed variation in some nucleotide in both species of Persian and Russian sturgeon but no significant. Results of sequences obtained from cloned segment with RAPD method and also specific primer design based on produced sequences could succeed to discover a variable DNA band that able to differentiate two species from each other. Results of the present study also showed that the growth hormone gene (GH) of Persian and Russian sturgeon consists of 645 nucleotide that translate to 214 Amino Acids. The sequence comparison indicated that the gene coding growth hormone in Persian and Russian sturgeon had the highest similarity with GH of Mammals (71%), Anguilaformes (63%) and less similarity with bony fish (37%). Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Persian and Russian sturgeon in compare to other organism are ancient species and this gene is originated from a common ancestor. At present study the most appropriate results obtained from Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) method by sequencing 14.4 billion nucleotide from genome of two species of Persian and Russian sturgeon from North and the South Caspian Sea could prove that the Persian sturgeon is a valid and independent specie. This excellent results is the biggest scientific achievement for differentiation of two highly commercial important sturgeon species in the Caspian Sea in last two decades.

Description: Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute

Description: Published

Description: The diversity of cold water fishes in the water resources of iran is great. So the identification and classification of species is scientifically and economically very important. The study of biological traits, geographical distribution, species diversity, ecological status and abundance of species groups in inland water resources and cultured systems are considered as base of programming for the conservation and sustainable exploitation of the genetic resources of these fish.According to the most reliable references, the most important indigenous cold water species in Iran with high economic value include 5 species of fish from salmonidae (Salmo trutta caspius and Salmo trutta fario), cyprinidae (Barbus brachycephalus, Leuciscus cephalus) and percidae (Sander lucioperca). Problems such as genetic disorders and subsequent adverse and unfaverable their effects on rainbow trout, reduced stock of caspian salmon (spring salmon), over-exploitation and smuggling (Salmo trutta fario, Barbus brachycephalus, Leuciscus cephalus, Sander lucioperca), the lack of biological information from other species (Barbus brachycephalus, Leuciscus cephalus) have caused the genetic reserves of these species to be critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable. The creation of a gene bank of living specimens, DNA and fish tissues samples, fishing restrictions (capture season, fishing gear, depth of fishing) and the creation of protected sites are the most important methods of conservation and exploitation of these genetic reserves. Rainbow trout, Salmo trutta caspius (because of their economic and nutritional importance) and brachycephalus are protected and exploited in the priority due to their vulnerability.

Description: Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute

Description: Published

Description: In order to introduce a new sturgeon hybrid to aquaculture industry, the possibility of hybrid production by crossing between Siberian and Persian sturgeons and its comparison with its pure parents using morphometric, molecular, cytogenetic and growth performance were conducted. For this purposes eggs and sperms of two pairs of Persian and Siberian sturgeon were collected and reciprocal crosses with 4 treatments were conducted. In treatment 1, Persian sturgeon as control (male and female of Persian sturgeon), treatment 2 (as type I hybrid) from crosses of male Persian sturgeon with eggs of female Siberian sturgeon in treatment 3 (type II hybrid) using crosses between male Siberian sturgeon and female Persian sturgeon and finally treatment 4 by crossing male and female of Siberian sturgeon were used. For each treatment 200 gr. of eggs were fertilized with one ml. of sperm and morphological, meristic parameters of parents and offspring were recorded. For growth comparison of fingerlings of control and hybrids in 3 different phases were measured. In phase (I), larvae rearing from 46 mg. up to 6600 mg. were conducted for a period of 10 weeks. Samples were collected once every two weeks and biological parameters were recorded. In rearing phase II for a period of 330 days, growth comparison were conducted for fish from 6.5 gr. to 750gr. and biological parameter were recorded once every month, where daily growth rate (gr./day), FCR, Specific growth coefficient (percentage per day), increase of body weight, food efficiency and protein efficiency ration were analyzed. In rearing phase (III), from 600 gr. to 2000 gr. for a period of 43 weeks, similar to phase (II) all biological parameters were analyzed, where 26 morphometric and meristic parameters of pure and hybrid parents and offspring were compared both for individual and ratio status of parameters. For genetic analysis and variation between control and hybrid specimens the microsatellite analysis were conducted. For this purposes, genomic DNA were extracted from fin tissues of brood stocks and fingerlings and 10 pairs of specific primers (Afug 56, Afug 63, Afug 241, Afug 229, OX 27, Afug 686, Afug 195, Afug 12, IS 68 and Afug 160) were used. Then PCR Products were electrophoresed on 6% polyacrylamide gel and then were stained with Nitrate silver and alleles were evaluated based on its length (base pair). Cytogenetic analysis and number of chromosome of control fish and hybrid were compared using white blood cell culture method and chromosome spread of parents as well as offspring were prepared by Gimsa staining and were visualized under light microscope. For sexual gonad development, laparoscopic method with light camera (Model M-CAM 1700) were used to differentiate 34 pieces of control and hybrid fish and gonad status of ovary and testis were analyzed. In present investigation the results indicate that, in phase (I) of larvae culture, a significant differences were observed after 10 weeks of feeding (p≤ 0.05) in hybrid and control groups. Maximum growth rate were observed in Siberian sturgeon larvae, followed by type I hybrid, type II hybrid and Persian sturgeon larvae. In phase (II) , growth rate of Persian sturgeon were lower than Siberian sturgeon. For period of 330 days of rearing periods, the control Siberian sturgeon had 1.4gr. weight increment per day, while Persian sturgeon had only1. gr./day. However the hybrid type (I) had an average daily growth of 1.5gr/day and lower growth performance were observed in type II hybrid with daily growth of 1.5 gr./day. In phase (III), growth rates were varied at different age group. The daily growth rate of Siberian sturgeon was 4.5gr/day, while is control Persian sturgeon was 2.6 gr/day. The Siberian sturgeon within 47 weeks of rearing grown from 655 gr. to 2016 gr., however Persian sturgeon for the same period reached from Siberian sturgeon with male’s Persian sturgeon had higher type II hybrid showed opposite results for the same growing period and reached from 640 gr. to 1680 gr. In conclusion of growth performance can be stated that the hybrid from crosses between female Siberian sturgeon with male Persian sturgeon presented highest growth rate in comparison to control hybrid. This excellent achievement can be considered as a big step toward sturgeon aquaculture for meat and Caviar production. In analysis of morphometric characters 26 parameters were investigated which in 18 parameters showed significant differences (p≤ 0.05) which indicate clear distinguish able of hybrid performance in compare with parents where Siberian sturgeon has longer snout compare to Persian sturgeon and its size are intermediate in hybrids. In relative ratio of characters, out of 9 characters totally 7 characters showed significant differences (p≤ 0.05). In molecular analysis using microsatellite primers totally 400 DNA samples of hybrid as well as the control fish were investigated. Totally 784 allele were detected in which 363 alleles were belong to control fish and 421 alleles in hybrid. In this study, 19 alleles with different sizes were observed in hybrids rang from (120bp) in Aox27 primers (400bp) in AFUG229 primers. In comparing of all primers, the primer AFUG160 and AFUG195 with 2 alleles and primer AFUG686 with 7 alleles showed the minimum and maximum allele numbers.The banding patterns were monomorphic in 66 loci of control fish and 65 loci of hybrids, and in 77 loci of control fish and 73 loci of hybrids were diploid in 9 loci of control fish and 12 loci of hybrid fish were tetraploid, in one locus of control samples and 3 hybrid samples were pentaploid and finally within 10 pairs of primers 7 sets were disomic, 3 primers (Afug241, Afug686, Aox27) were tetraploid and 6 primers of (Afug63, Aox27, Afug688, Afug12, Is68, Afug160) showed excellent allele heritability which indicate the high efficiency of microsatellite techniques. In evaluation of the status of gonad development as well as determination of sexual stages laprascopic method indicated that out of 9 samples of Persian sturgeon (4 females and 5 male) were in stage of 2 & 3 gonad development. Out of 8 Siberian sturgeon (4 males+4 females) stage 2, 3, 4 were detected. In 7 gonad samples of hybrid (Female Persian and Male Siberian) totally 5 male and 2 female were observed at stage 3 and 4 gonad development. In analysis of 10 samples of type II hybrid (female Siberian × male Persian) 3 female, 6 males and 1 deformetic were observed. Cytological studies on 30 metaphase palate from 6 fish samples showed that the number of chromosome in hybrid are as same as parents 2n=250±10 where all control and hybrids similar to its parents showed 240 chromosome. In conclusion, It can stated that, this study successfully introduced a new sturgeon hybrid for sturgeon farming both for meat and caviar production. Considering the common name of sturgeon parents used for production this hybrid, we call this hybrid as (Siper) where Si instant for Siberian sturgeon and Per comes from Persian sturgeon.

Description: Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute

Description: Published

Description: Four experiments were conducted to study of production meat in reared beluga (Huso huso) with different diets. In the first experiment, A 19-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate dehulled soybean meal (DHSM) as a fish meal (FM) replacer in juvenile beluga, of initial body weight 8.25 ± 0.08 g (mean ± SD) in triplicate groups, fed six isoenergetic (20.1 mJ kg-1) and isoproteic (45% crude protein) diets, resulting in 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% of fish meal protein being replaced by soybean protein. Growth performance was reduced significantly with the increasing of DHSM in the diets in the present study. In the next stage, triplicate groups of 315 fish averaging 300.25 ± 10.28 g (mean ± SD) were fed one of seven experimental diets for 14 weeks. Weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed effeciency (FE), protein efficiency of retio (PER) of fish fed 5%, 10% and 15% of soybean protein diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed 20%, 25% and 30% diets. Whole body protein, lipid, moisture content were unaffected among different treatments (P 〉 0.05). In the second experiment, A 2 × 4 factorial design was used to evaluate the dietary lysine and to determine the optimum dietary L-carnitine in sub-yearling beluga, reared in the indoor system. Twelve experimental diets were formulated and prepared to contain four lysine levels (0.75, 1.5, 2.25 and 4% diet) and two L-carnitine levels (300 and 600 mg/kg diet) at each lysine level. Fish averaging 23 ± 0.5 (mean±SD) were fed one of the experimental diets for 10 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, there were significant lysine and Lcarnitine effects (P 〈0.05) on growth performance and feed conversation ratio (FCR). These results may indicate that, weight gain (WG), FCR and protein efficiency ratio (PER) in fish fed diet containing 3% lysine and 600 mg L-carnitine/kg diet were significantly higher than those of fish fed control diet (P 〈 0.05). There were no significan dietary lysine and L-carnitine effects on glucose, cholesterol and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, of fish fed different levels of lysine with 300 mg L-carnitine/kg diet, however, Hb concentration in fish fed diet containing 2.25% lysine and 600 mg L-carnitine/kg diet were significantly higher than those of fish fed control diet (P 〈 0.05). These results may indicate that the optimum lysine and the L-carnitine levels could be 2.25-3% and 600 mg L-carnitine, respectively in begga (8-300 4g), based on growth performance, feed utilization and hematological parameters. In the thired experiment, a study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary betafine and metionine interaction on the growth, feed efficiency, carcass composition and hematological index in juvenile beluga. Thirteen diets were formulated to contain four dietary metionine levels (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2%), betafine (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2%) with equal ratio of metionine and betafine (0.5: 0.5, 1: 1, 1.5: 1.5 and 2: 2% diet) were fed to juvenile beluga (23± 0.5 g) in triplicate groups for 12 weeks in a indoor system. The results showed that no significant (P〉 0.05) differences were found in growth performance and feed utilization among the dietary betafine and metionine concentrations in beluga. Hb concentration of fish fed control, 1 and 1.5% metionine were significantly higher than those of fish fed the other diets. FCR of fish was significantly improved by dietary metionine and betafine. FCR was lower (P 〈 0.05) in fish fed equal ratio of metionine and betafine (2: 2) diets than those in fish fed control diet. Based on above results, it is recommended that the diet for juvenile beluga, Huso huso (8-300g), should contain equal ratio of metionine and betafine (1.5: 1.5) diet, corresponding to 5.95 g/100 g of dietary protein for optimum growth, efficient feed utilization and whole-body protein content. A 17-week feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary L-carnitine level in beluga, Huso huso. A total of fish averaging 1247 ± 15.6 g (mean ± SD) were randomly distributed into 18 fibreglass tanks, and each tank holding 10 fish was then randomly assigned to one of three replicates of six diets with 50, 150, 350, 650, 950 and 1250 mg L-carnitine kg-1 diet. At the end of 17 weeks of feeding trial, average weight gain (WG), feed efficiency (FE), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and condition factor (CF) of fish fed 350 mg kg-1 diet were significantly (P 〈 0.05) higher than those of fish fed 50, 150, 950 and 1250 mg kg-1 diets. WG, FE, PER and CF of beluga fed 650 mg kg-1 diet were also significantly higher than those of fish fed 50, 950 and 1250 mg kg-1 diets. Whole body and muscle protein were significantly improved by the elevation of dietary L-carnitine level up to 350 mg kg-1. Liver superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities of fish fed 350 and 650 mg kg _1 diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed 50, 950 and 1250 mg kg-1 diets. The dietary Lcarnitine level of 350–650 mg kg-1 diet could improve growth performance, feed utilization, protein-sparing effects of lipid, antioxidant defence system and reproductive success. Polynomial regression of WG suggested that the optimum dietary L-carnitine level was 480 mg kg-1 diet. Therefore, these results may indicate that the optimum dietary L-carnitine could be higher than 350 but 〈650 mg kg-1 diet in beluga reared in intensive culture conditions.

Description: Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute

Description: Published

Description: In this study, two population of Molokaei and High health were selected as zero generation of Litopenaeus vannamei broodstocks. After mating males and females adult within inbreeding and crossbreeding three various storage were produced: H♂ × M♀, M♂ × H♀ and H♀ × H♂. The second generation of shrimp were obtained from storage of broodstocks (MH) first generation. The aim of this study was investigated close relationship between different generations of specific pathogenic free shrimp. The analysis d-loop region of mitochondrial genomes of different generations shrimp was observed 997 positions with 3-6 and 766-799 of haplotype and monomorphic, respectively. Despite haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity of all generations SPF shrimp were 0.877 and 0.12, respectively. But, results showed homozygosity rate is increasing from one generation to next generation, so low genetic distance were observed between different generations of SPF shrimp certain disease-free shrimp. Regarding the results of in this study can be concluded that lack of arriving new broodstocks from outside the country and was mating between adult males and females relative (full-sib) addition to small effective population size there was both genetic drift and number of haplotypes was gradually reduced from zero generation to second generation. Hence, due to the high close relationship between different generations shrimp evaluation of d-loop region of the mitochondrial genome were little genetic difference between them

Description: Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute

Description: Published

Description: Due to high maturation age in sturgeons and lack of morphologic differences between male and female even in brood stocks, sex determination is difficult in these species. In this research with using of AFLP approach and 100 primer combinations, male and female genomic DNA of 20 individuals in Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) and beluga (Huso huso) were investigated. Ligation was carried out with using of MseI and EcoRI, and then adapters were ligated with using of T4 DNA Ligase. Fragments amplification was done through two steps PCR and electrophoresis on denature poly acrylamid and stained by silver staining. Data derived from banding patterns were scored as o (absence) and 1 (Presence). A set of 100 (Eco+3 and Mse+4) primer combinations in A. persicus and H. huso yielded approximately a total of 3771 and 3779 scorable bands, respectively of which 30% in A. persicus and 29.6% in H. huso were polymorphic. The fragments ranged from 50 to 600 bp without revealing any sex specific markers. So we used cDNA-AFLP approach in order to analysis of gene expression in 8 female and 8 male Persian sturgeon gonads. Results revealed two cDNA markers in female gonad (TDF1, TDF2) and they verified with RT-PCR in male and female gonads cDNA. But unfortunately they didn t verify in genomic DNA. According to this research results and previous researches, it seems that sturgeons may have not sex chromosomes or the methods were used couldn t determine them.

Description: Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute

Description: Published