Domestication and strain evaluation of striped bass ( Morone saxatilis)

Variation in growth rate within and among geographic strains of striped bass, Morone saxatilis, has recently been evaluated by researchers at the University of Maryland. Recent research on strain evaluation of geographical populations of striped bass suggests that Maryland strains may exhibit superior growth rates among those populations examined. In this study, variation in growth rate was evaluated within and among a number of striped bass families originated from Chesapeake Bay, MD, USA, as well as five additional North American, Atlantic coast strains from Nova Scotia, Canada to Florida, USA. All striped bass were maintained in flow-through tank systems receiving ambient Chesapeake Bay water. Significant differences in growth performance among putative genetic stocks within the 1983 year-class F 1 demonstrated among-stock variation that could be exploited in a selective breeding program. Similarly, comparisons of growth performance within and among domesticated F 2 families of the 1992 year-class revealed significant differences among the families, as well as the geographic stocks, suggesting the utility of heritability estimation experiments and a selection program designed to utilize both individual and family selection. Comparisons of growth at age 2 in both length and weight between families of the Maryland strain and families from five other geographical regions revealed significant differences between strains.