Growth of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), blue catfish (I. furcatus), and their F1, F2, F3, and F1 reciprocal backcross hybrids in earthen ponds.

The F1 hybrid between a channel catfish female (Ictalurus punctatus) × a blue catfish (I. furcatus) male outperforms both parental species in most environments. However, reproductive isolating mechanisms between the species made it difficult to mass produce the F1 hybrid for commercialization until recent improvements in hormone usage.

High-density linkage maps and sex-linked markers for the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon).

We report on the construction of sex-specific high-density linkage maps and identification of sex-linked markers for the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Overall, we identified 44 male and 43 female linkage groups (2n = 88) from the analysis of 2,306 AFLP markers segregating in three full-sib families, covering 2,378 and 2,362 cM, respectively. Twenty-one putatively homologous linkage groups, including the sex-linkage groups, were identified between the female and male linkage maps.

Enhanced bacterial disease resistance of transgenic channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus possessing cecropin genes.

The cecropin B gene from the moth Hyalophora cecropia, driven by the cytomegalovirus promoter, was transferred to the channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Transgenic individuals (P1) were mated to produce individuals (F1) that exhibited enhanced disease resistance and survival when challenged with pathogenic bacteria. During the epizootic of Flavobacterium columnare in an earthen pond, the percentage of transgenic individuals containing preprocecropin B construct that survived (100%) was significantly greater (P <0.