Genetic Resources of Indian Major Carps

Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. Genetic resources of Indian major carps, their distribution and characterization: i. Genetic resources of Indian major carps. ii. Distribution. iii. Major carps in reservoirs. iv. Genetic characterization of major carps. v. Present status of major carp germplasm resource in relation to environmental changes and habitat modifications. 3. Hybridization: i. Hybridization of Indian major carps in nature. ii. Artificial/experimental hybridization in Indian major carps. iii. Evaluation of meat of hybrids. iv. Mixed spawning and hybridization. Annex. 4. Cytogenetic studies: i. Karyotype of Indian major carps. ii. Karyotype studies of hybrids. iii. Karyotype studies in relation to hybrid viability and fertility. iv. Chromosome banding studies. 5. Chromosome manipulations: i. Gynogenesis. ii. Androgenesis. iii. Polyploidy. iv. Gene transfer or genetic engineering in Indian major carps. 6. Selective breeding: i. Selection work on Indian major carps in India. 7. Status of genetic research on Indian major carps in other countries: i. Bangladesh. ii. Thailand. iii. Vietnam. 8. Cryogenic preservation of carp milt and genebanking: i. Cryopreservation of embryos. ii. Gene banking 9. Summary. 10. References.

"This publication, written for resource managers, aqua culturists and scientists, reviews the genetic resources of Indian major carps: catla (Catla catla), rohu (Labeo rohita), mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala) and kalbasu (Labeo calbasu). The review includes information on spawning behaviour and breeding under natural and culture conditions, distribution, genetic characterization, status of genetic resources, conservation efforts and hybridization among Indian major carps and with other cyprinids. Research on genetic improvement through selective breeding, chromosome-set manipulation and genetic engineering in India is reviewed. The status of Indian major carps in Bangladesh, Thailand and Viet Nam as well as work in India on cryopreservation and gene banking are also discussed."