Improved Techniques of Chromosome Preparation from Shrimp and Prawns

Abstract

This paper reports simple techniques for obtaining high quality somatic and meiotic chromosome spreads from larval and adult stages of shrimp and prawns. These techniques were successfully applied to study the cytogenetic profile of Penaeus monodon (2n = 88), Metapenaeus affinis (2n = 88) and Macrobrachium rosenbergii (2n = 118). The cephalotho­rax of postlarvae, and hepatopancreas, regenerated blastema and testicular tissues of adult specimens provided the best chromosomal plates. The improved techniques will be helpful in cytogenetic characterization and improvement of commercially important shrimp and prawn species.