Application of surrogate broodstock technology in aquaculture

Abstract

Surrogate broodstock technology facilitates the production of donor-derived gametes in surrogates, and comprises transplanting germ cells of a donor into recipients of a different strain or different species. The following applications of this technology are expected in the field of aquaculture: (1) the efficient and reliable production of offspring carrying superior genetic traits by transplanting donor germ cells from a single selected fish with superior traits into many recipient fish; (2) the reduction of the time required to breed fish by using a recipient species with a short generation time to produce gametes of a species with a long generation time; (3) the long-term storage of valuable species or strains as genetic resources by cryopreserving germ cells for transplantation; (4) the mass production of genetically sterile fish by transplanting germ cells of a donor fish that is sterile due to a mutation in the somatic cells into normal recipients without this mutation. It is expected that a combination of these techniques will greatly accelerate the breeding of aquaculture species. It is important to adapt surrogate broodstock technology to a wider range of fishery species and further improve the efficiency of donor-derived gamete production when using surrogate broodstock.