Use and exchange of genetic resources of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Abstract

The worldwide use of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758) in aquaculture represents a somewhat unique scenario. The natural distributions and global genetic resources of tilapias are in Africa, yet the main centers of utilization for aquaculture are primarily in Asia. Within a few decades, Nile tilapia graduated from being an ‘orphan commodity’ (i.e. of interest to only resource‐poor fish farmers) to a globally traded commodity. Most aquaculture production of Nile tilapia in Asia and elsewhere has relied on a narrow genetic base. The natural genetic resources have not yet been fully documented and tapped for use in aquaculture, and many natural populations are under severe threat of irreversible change or loss. Although genetic improvement is now well underway, an important question is how the wealth of Nile tilapia wild genetic resources shall be used for the benefit of a wide range of users, at present outside Africa. This review focuses on documenting the status of Nile tilapia genetic resources (including the potential threats), providing a case for their conservation and for the judicious utilization of genetic diversity for the benefit of all stakeholders; and on analysis of the lessons learnt from a major Nile tilapia genetic improvement initiative, the genetic improvement of farmed tilapia (GIFT) project. Information about other genetic improvement efforts by means of hybridization, sex reversal and YY male technology is also presented.

Identifying Nile tilapia strains and their hybrids farmed in Brazil using microsatellite markers

“…The different strains have distinct zootechnical characteristics, and the choice of an appropriate strain for a set of conditions could increase farming efficiency (Eknath & Hulata, 2009). It should be highlighted that the farming of interstrain hybrids is undesirable and could lead to a decrease in productivity (Sukmanomon et al, 2012a).…”

“…Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), is one of the most popular fish in global aquaculture and, therefore, has been a target species for numerous genetic improvement programs (Eknath & Hulata, 2009;Rodriguez-Rodriguez et al, 2013). As such, several strains have been developed and improved along the years.…”

Circadian cycle of digestive enzyme production at fasting and feeding conditions in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Cichlidae)

“…Polynomial regression analysis generalizes analysis of covariance in nonlinear situations. The main advantage of this approach is to compare hourly enzyme activities (Draper and Smith 1981, Freud and Little 1981, Snedecor and Cochran 1981.…”

“…The Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), is a freshwater, omnivorous cichlid fi sh native to Africa, but currently available worldwide (Eknath and Hulata 2009). It represents the second largest group of farmed fi sh, which production quadrupled within the past decade.…”

Digestibility and pricing of Chlorella sorokiniana meal for use in tilapia feeds

“…are universally known as tilapia and belong to the Cichlid family. during the second half of the twentieth century (Eknath and Hulata, 2009). As a group, tilapia are the second most farmed fish in the world, recording 3 × 10 6 t in 2009 (Ng and Romano, 2013).…”