8 – THE NILE TILAPIA

摘要: This chapter discusses the Nile tilapia genetic resources along lines of documentation, characterization, evaluation, utilisation, and conservation. Tilapias possess remarkable attributes for aquaculture: excellent growth rates on low protein diets whether cropping natural aquatic production or receiving supplementary feeds; tolerance wide ranges environmental conditions; comparative freedom from serious diseases parasitic infections; ease handling breeding in captivity; acceptance as food fish. Although several species are cultured, most widely preferred (in over 40 countries) is Oreochromis niloticus . farmed tropics subtropics all continents. FAO statistics report culture 68 countries. As other groups fishes, taxonomy tilapias not without its problems. The nomenclature that applies to populations little use labelling cultured tilapias. In aquaculture, male grow 20–40% larger than females. One research areas biologists engaged mechanism sex determination. mid-1980s, ICLARM started explore a program develop improved breeds fish grown inland aquaculture systems by small scale farmers. So far, there almost no sustained applied programs developing tropical