In vitro fertilization technique in banana shrimp, Fenneropenaeus merguiensis (De Man, 1888)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to develop an appropriate basis for the optimization of in vitro fertilization of Fenneropenaeus merguiensis using three different culture medium including Natural Sea Water (NSW) as control medium, Artificial Sea Water (ASW) and Calcium Free saline (Ca-F saline). The unfertilized mature eggs were collected from the broodstock ovaries during spawning. The non-motile sperm of F. merguiensis activated as natural spawning. In NSW medium, ASW medium and Ca-F saline medium, cortical rods were released and hatching envelope formation took place in which the eggs activation events were reported. The Ca-F saline and ASW solution induced a slow egg activation contradict with the sequence of event for natural spawning of F. merguiensis. Fertilization was successfully obtained in all treatments with 8.67±4.04% in ASW, 19.67±7.38 and 4.33±4.04 in Ca-F saline. Although, the hatching rate were not successfully obtained by ASW and NSW culture medium treatment, hatching yield in Ca-F saline medium was obtained with 3.00±2.65. Overall, these findings will contribute to the development of F. merguiensis breeding technology and further understanding on sperm biology, cryobiology and reproductive biology in shrimp.