HAKI - Halbiológiai Osztály - Genetika témacsoport

Research field

• Application of novel molecular animal breeding methods in the aquaculture (marker-based parental assignments)
• Population genetic studies
• Research in fish genetics
• Preservation of genetic resources of economically important fish species (common carp, European catfish and sturgeon gene banks) supported by molecular tools.

On-going research themes

• Establishment of European catfish (Silurus glanis L.) lines with high growth rate and tolerance against intensive rearing conditions
• A new carp species candidate creating for intensive livestock technology in ponds
• Establishment a new common carp candidate-breed selected for intensive pond rearing technology

Establishment of European catfish (Silurus glanis L.) lines with high growth rate and tolerance against intensive rearing conditions

In the case of European catfish (as opposed to carp) selection work has been  hardly started, so the European catfish involved in production is  practically wild, appears as an non-domesticated species, without well-separated selected populations, lines or varieties. The goal of this project is to create such well established lines, which are adapted to the current technologies that meet domestic producer needs and have higher growth performance. This can be reached, by using genetic diversity of the existing catfish stocks from the live gene bank of NAIK-HAKI, as well as the wild- and pond farm-origin stocks. The results of successful selection work on more favourable growth indicators would have immediate economic benefits when introducing them into practice. Establishment of better performing lines, could allow fish farmers, to use higher standard (better growth potential, improved feed utilization, etc.) broodstocks, stocking materials and fingerlings.

A new carp species candidate creating for intensive livestock technology in ponds

The goal which classical animal breeding methods are applied, to develop a well-adapted (high environmental stress tolerance) and fast-growing carp candidate for intensive (two-years production) based on pond nutrition. It is necessary to do performance tests, based on the above technology, with the pure blood and crossed offsprings of the breeds of the HAKI’s live carp gen-bank. The experimental stock could tested in a variety of lake intensive systems, (in small-scale monoculture, lake cage and / or "lake in the lake" system). We could select the best performing candidates, based on the results.

Establishment a new common carp candidate-breed selected for intensive pond rearing technology

The goal of this breeding work is to develop a well-adapted (high environmental stress tolerance) and fast-growing carp candidate for intensive (two-years production pond conditions with tha application of formulated feed. In this work the classical animal breeding methods are applied (using pure breeds and make crossbreds). It is necessary to do performance tests, based on the above technology, with the pure breed and crossbred offsprings of the strains of the HAKI’s live carp gen-bank. The experimental stock could tested in a variety of pond intensive systems, (in small-scale monoculture, cage culture and / or "pond in pond" system). We could select the best performing candidates (breeds), based on the results and establish new lines, which fit to the above mentioned traits.