The early life culture and gonadal development of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii: A review

The giant freshwater prawn, Macrobarchium rosenbergii (De Man, 1879), is the largest palaemonid prawn, with a maximum body length of 32 cm. M. rosenbergii originated in the Indo-Pacific and distributed to Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, India, and Bangladesh. M. rosenbergii has become an international food source due to its high protein content, tasty flavor, and larger size. As market demand has increased, the improvement in M. rosenbergii production has become a major concern, with global production reaching 234,400 metrics tonnes in 2018. In this article, we review elements that may influence the progression of embryonic development; the stocking density, feeding frequency, salinity and photoperiod in larval rearing; and the incorporation of probiotics in the diet that may promote M. rosenbergii growth and survival. In addition, we cover gonadal development and the functional genes associated with it that influence the reproductive process. Understanding these topics will perhaps provide new insights or clues into the early life culture and gonadal development of M. rosenbergii, thereby, enhancing its growth and viability.

Automated summary

This article reviews factors influencing the embryonic development of M. rosenbergii and key points in larval rearing that can promote its growth and survival. It also covers gonadal development and functional genes associated with the reproductive process. Understanding these topics is of importance for the culture and reproductive success of M. rosenbergii.