ESTIMATION OF GENETIC PARAMETERS FOR PROXIMATE COMPOSITION TRAITS IN THE MUSCLE OF THE CHINESE MITTEN CRAB, ERIOCHEIR SINENSIS H. MILNE EDWARDS, 1853 (BRACHYURA, VARUNIDAE)

This study examined the heritability and genetic correlations of muscle proximate composition (including crude lipid, protein, moisture, and ash) in the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. The results showed that the heritability of proximate composition traits, was 0.12 +/- 0.07 for moisture, 0.04 +/- 0.04 for crude fat, 0.07 +/- 0.05 for crude protein and 0.03 +/- 0.04 for ash, respectively. A positive genetic correlation (0.88) was observed between crude lipid and protein, whereas a negative correlation existed between crude lipid and moisture (-0.74), indicating that crude lipid content could be improved by moisture selection indirectly. The muscle-moisture trait has the highest heritability, and is the easiest parameter to measure among the four proximate composition traits. Our results provide fundamental information for the development of improved genetic-programmes utilizing quality traits of E. sinensis.