Gonad development of Placuna placenta Linnaeus fed Isochrysis galbana Parke, Tetraselmis tetrahele (G.S. West) Butch, or their combination

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine a suitable algal diet for the window-pane oyster, Placuna placenta Linnaeus, during gonad development. Sexually immature P. placenta (70 mm shell height) were fed Isochrysis galbana Parke, Tetraselmis tetrahele (G.S. West) Butch, or their 1:1 combination, at 100 000 cells per ml divided into two rations per day. Temperature and salinity ranged from 27 to 29 °C and 28 to 32 ppt, respectively. Monthly gonad histological examination showed a rapid gonad development in P. placenta fed the combination of I. galbana and T. tetrahele, attaining sexual maturity in the third month of rearing, a month ahead of those fed single algal species.