Induced maturation of the Indian pearl oyster Pinctada fucata (Gould) at Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

In the induced maturation experiments of the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata (Gould), 7.5 ± 3.54%, 6.67% and 15 ± 7.07% fully mature pearl oysters were obtained on day 43, 42 and 36 in oysters fed with mixed algae (T-1), mixed algae and raw corn flour (T-2), mixed algae and raw rice flour (T-3), respectively under laboratory conditions. Among the treatments, it was observed that mixed algae with raw rice flour (T-3) gave the best results with 62.5 ± 7.08% of the pearl oyster maturing under laboratory conditions on day 29 itself. Whereas, 35 ± 7.07% fully mature pearl oysters were obtained on the 15th day and none in the unfed control. Of the matured animals, 43.33% of stage III animals fed on mixed algae changed to stage IV within 19 days, while gonad of 40 ± 14.14% of pearl oysters without feeding changed to stage IV within 26 days under laboratory conditions. Maturity stage of 53.12 ± 11.97% pearl oysters did not change when maintained in the farm conditions within 24 days.