Enhanced growth and retarded gonadal development of farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) following a long-day photoperiod

Long-day photoperiods are considered as an effective managerial tool in manipulating of reproduction and somatic growth in a number of fish species. In this study, the effects of three different artificial photoperiods on the gonadal development and somatic growth of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss L.) were investigated. Two years-old immature female rainbow trout (279.94 +/- 2.25 g) were exposed to three artificial photoperiod regimes of 24L:0D, 18L:6D and 6L:18D and natural light (NL) regime for 5 months. The highest gonadosomatic indices were recorded in NL and 6L:18D groups while the rates were significantly lower in fish maintained under 18L:6D and 24L:0D photoperiods (P< 0.05). Mean oocyte diameters in fish exposed to 24L:0D and also to 18L:6D were significantly lower than the 6L:18D and NL groups. Photoperiods with 24L:0D and 18L:6D regimes resulted in significantly higher mean final weights and specific growth rates (SGR) than NL regime. The highest mean final weight (635.45 +/- 16.19 g) and SGR (1.03 +/- 0.04% day(-1)) were obtained under 24L:0D photoperiod. Fish exposed to 24L:0D and 18L:6D showed the highest condition factor as 1.44 +/- 0.01 and 1.44 +/- 0.02 respectively, when compared with the NL (1.27 +/- 0.01) and 6L:18D (1.34 +/- 0.02) groups. Basically, the results suggested that continuous artificial lightning can be used as an influential factor in delaying gonadal development and enhancing somatic growth in rainbow trout during gonadal growth phase.