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Honmoroko Gnathopogon caerulescens is a critically endangered species and important for commercial fisheries; thus stock enhancement programs are being conducted to restore resources. We evaluated the genetic population structure of field collected samples including spawned eggs around spawning areas in Lake Biwa and the extent of genetic diversity in wild samples and hatchery stocks using sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Pairwise Φst analysis and AMOVA clearly showed minimal population structure and haplotype network did not reveal any clear geographic pattern in Lake Biwa. It is probable that strays spawn in non-natal spawning areas, resulting in significant levels of gene flow among spawning areas. Genetic characteristics of hatchery stock F1, F2, and F3 were similar to those of wild samples in terms of haplotype diversity, nucleotide diversity and pairwise Φst values. These results indicate that the relatively high genetic diversity at its initiation was retained due to a lot of broodstock over two successive generations. Accordingly we propose that the current Honmoroko breeding method is appropriate for conserving the genetic diversity of Honmoroko and that the hatchery stock are genetically compatable for release and stock enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The honmoroko has been inferred to have an XX/XY sex determination system, but the parental genome can also affect the sex ratio of the offspring. The extent of parental effects on sex determination was examined by checking the sex ratios of F1 and F2 gynogenetic diploids and control diploids. Eleven gynogenetic broods from different females consisted of all or nearly all females, but eight broods showed a variable proportion of males (<50 %). One second-generation brood of gynogenetic diploids consisted wholly of females, but others produced some males. In crosses with a control diploid female, four males from a high-percentage male brood of gynogenetic diploids produced offspring with a balanced sex ratio. Sib-mating between a gynogenetic female and three gynogenetic males from the brood produced predominantly male progeny. These results suggest that there are at least four possible genotypes: genotypic female (XX), phenotypic female carrying a silent Y chromosome, genotypic male (XY), and genotypic supermale (YY). These inferences suggest that this fish has an XY system but a relatively high proportion of females possess a mutated, silent Y chromosome which does not lead to testis formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sex ratios of the offspring of males from broods of honmoroko Gnathopogon caerulescens that displayed thermolabile sex determination (TSD), and those from eggs collected from the wild, strongly suggest that the combination of parents plays an important supplementary role in TSD in this species. The proportion of females in all broods from eight pairings of fish captured in the field decreased significantly at 30°C compared to 20°C, and one brood was entirely female at the lower temperature. These results suggest that phenotypic males (XX-males) exist in nature, probably as a result of sex change from genetic females caused by TSD. Sex ratios in relation to water temperature fall into five patterns, two of which seem to result from normal pairings of XX-females and XY- males, and from pairings of XX-males and XX-females with non-thermosensitivity. Two other patterns are thought to result from the same types of pairing, but with thermosensitivity. The last pattern, which shows male bias at both low and high temperature, is not explained only by the combination of genotypic sex determination (XX/XY) and TSD. Fluctuating temperatures close to natural conditions showed little potential to masculinize broods laid in the field between April and early June. However, the sex ratios of fish spawned in early June showed male bias at low and high temperatures. The sex determination mechanism in G. caerulescens may involve the interaction between temperature and sex-determining genetic factors, and the relative importance of each component differs with breeding season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]