The Effect of Cryopreserved Sperm on the Early Development, Survival, and Growth of Intergeneric Sterbel Hybrids ( Acipenser ruthenus × Huso huso )

The aim of this study was to analyze the survival and growth of intergeneric ( Acispenser ruthenus × Huso huso L.) sterbel hybrids obtained by fertilizing sterlet eggs with cryopreserved beluga semen. The rate of embryonic development did not differ between sterbel hybrids (experimental groups) and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Main Authors: Dorota Fopp-Bayat, Anna Nitkiewicz, Piotr Gomułka
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25115784
https://doaj.org/article/c275f3e622f148ebb04da4aa764cc55f
Description
Summary:The aim of this study was to analyze the survival and growth of intergeneric ( Acispenser ruthenus × Huso huso L.) sterbel hybrids obtained by fertilizing sterlet eggs with cryopreserved beluga semen. The rate of embryonic development did not differ between sterbel hybrids (experimental groups) and sterlets (control groups), and the hatching period was identical in all groups. The survival rate of hybrid larvae was higher in the experimental groups than in the control groups. Body weight and body length measurements revealed that sterbel hybrids grew at a faster rate than the control group sterlets. The hybrid origin of sterbels produced with the use of cryopreserved beluga semen was confirmed in a genetic analysis based on species-specific DNA fragments. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the growth of sterbel hybrids derived from cryopreserved semen. The research findings indicate that this type of intergeneric hybridization delivers satisfactory results and can be applied in sturgeon aquaculture.