Recent updates on the selective breeding program for the genetic improvement of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in Thailand

Abstract

Although the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) has been domesticated in Thailand for decades, a suitable selective breeding program has yet to be applied. Good quality seeds for the Macrobrachium industry are therefore not regularly produced. One of the selective breeding programs on the improvement of growth performance of the domesticated strain has been carried out at the Aquatic Animal Genetics Research and Development Institute (AAGRDI), Department of Fisheries of Thailand. AAGRDI has developed improved and domesticated stock of Macrobrachium rosenbergii for two generations. Meanwhile, domesticated stocks from private hatcheries have also been acquired. There is therefore a need to develop another improved stock of this species basically from these two domesticated stocks together with a wild stock in order to improve the genetic diversity of the base population for further selective breeding.