Managing the reproduction of shrimp farmed in captivity is essential for selective breeding and interspecies hybridization. Procedures have not been developed for conducting in vitro fertilization in penaeid shrimp. In this study, the feasibility of in vitro fertilization (IVF) of the pre-ovulatory oocyte of Penaeus indicus was examined. Additionally, the processes of fertilization and possibility of hybridizing P. indicus with P. monodon with utilization of IVF procedures was also evaluated. The IVF was conducted by dissecting ovaries with fully developed follicles, and mixing these (~0.1 million oocytes) with 1 mL of a sperm suspension. Evaluations for fertilization and embryonic development occurred every l5 min. The eggs collected from the ovaries had the capacity for activation and fertilization. The hatching rate was 5.5 ± 1.1% of the total number of eggs fertilized, and 8.2 ± 4.8% of the nauplii developed to the post-larval stage. Results from the scanning electron micrograph evaluations provided detailed information about the changes occurring as a result of IVF in P. indicus. Interspecific hybridization of P. indicus with P. monodon did not result in hatching of embryos from the eggs, although 1% of eggs were fertilized. A reliable and inexpensive IVF procedure was developed, therefore, IVF could be an efficacious procedure for facilitation of intraspecific cross production in a penaeid breeding program. Furthermore, it was determined that IVF could be a possible procedure for interspecies hybridization between closely related species to circumvent prezygotic barriers in reproductive processes.
Keywords: Aquaculture; Embryonic development; Hybridization; In vitro fertilization; Penaeus indicus.
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