COMPARATIVE FIELD PERFORMANCE OF EASTERN OYSTER LINES IN NEW JERSEY AND RHODE ISLAND

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Abstract
Eastern oyster aquaculture has increased steadily over the last three decades, but the industry has not achieved its full potential. In the Northeast USA, production is limited in part by a lack of high performing stocks suited to geographically broad and heterogenous growing environments. Hatchery lines from Maine, New York, and New Jersey and their crosses were evaluated at oyster farms in Rhode Island and New Jersey. Replicate bags of each line were maintained according to standard husbandry practices, and survival, growth and final yield were monitored for 16 months. During the second summer of the evaluation period, subsamples from each line were tested for parasites Perkinsus marinus (Dermo) and Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX) to assess disease acquisition at both sites. Significant site, line, and line by site (GxE) interaction effects were detected for growth and mortality. Differences in growth between sites reflect food availability while differences in mortality coincide with disease and potential heat stress. Trait differences observed among lines within sites are consistent with selection history and local adaptation. Top performing lines were not consistent across sites, suggesting advantages of long-term selection/local adaptation may not transfer when lines are grown outside their site of origin. Our results highlight the role of GxE interactions in the expression of commercially important traits and can contribute to the development of future breeding strategies and more informed on-farm seed deployments that will augment eastern oyster aquaculture production in the Northeast USA.

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