Growth performance and white spot syndrome virus resistance in families of kuruma shrimp (<i>Marsupenaeus japonicus)</i>

56-60Present study reveals the variation in wet weight at harvest (4 months in pond) and resistance to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in the Kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus. Eight families obtained from gravid female shrimp from wild and two inbred families were used. Representatives from each family were challenged with White Spot Syndrome virus. Survival curves in a challenge experiment revealed no difference between wild and inbred families. However, one family each from wild and inbred had higher median survival compared to the rest. Analysis of the wet weight at harvest revealed sexual dimorphism for growth with females weighing heavier than their male counterparts. Heritability was estimated sex-wise for harvest weight using full-sib correlation method. The estimates indicate that harvest weight would respond readily to selection