Phenotypic traits of two boring giant clam (Tridacna crocea) populations and their reciprocal hybrids in the South China Sea

The boring giant clam, Tridacna crocea, is distributed along coasts in the South China Sea, and has formed several geographic populations. These populations represent potentially different genetic resources for aquaculture, and the evaluation of their genetic and production characteristics is important. To determine these performance characteristics, complete diallel crosses between two geographical populations with about 600 km distance, Zhaoshu Island and Huangyan Island, were conducted using pooled gametes at an experimental station in Sanya, Hainan Island Province. Two intra-population crosses (ZZ and HH) and two reciprocal inter-population crosses (ZH and HZ) were carried out successfully three times. High fertilization rates and D larvae rate were observed in all the experimental groups, suggesting that there was no sperm-egg recognition barrier between the two geographic populations. Reciprocal hybrids had a higher survival rate than the pure populations, but with the exception of metamorphosis rate there were no significant differences between the inter- and intra-population crosses. Growth heterosis was evident in both the spat and adult stages, and was mainly influenced by egg origin and mating strategy in the adult stage. In view of the growth differences between the two pure populations' progeny, the Huangyan Island population's progeny was more suitable for giant clam aquaculture than the Zhaoshu Island population's progeny. Our results demonstrate that crossbreeding between the Huangyan Island and Zhaoshu Island populations of boring giant clams can produce considerable heterosis, which has promising prospects for application in the giant clam aquaculture industry in the South China Sea.