Analysis on the Effects of Morphological Traits of Lutraria sieboldii on Its Body Mass Trait.

[Objectives] This study was conducted to explore the relationship between morphological traits and body mass trait of Lutraria sieboldii. [Methods] 110 were randomly selected from 120 2n,i-instar L. sieboldii collected from the Tieshangang area of Beihai, Guangxi, and 132 were randomly selected from 150 shellfish at the instar of 0.6. Their morphological traits were measured: shell length (SL), shell height (SH), shell width (SW), anterior length (AL), posterior length (PL), nose length (NL) in closed shell state, and maximum open shell width (OS) between two shells in closed shell state, and the body mass trait BM was also measured. Statistical methods such as path analysis and multiple regression were used for data analysis, and the effects of these seven morphological traits on the body mass trait were studied, respectively. The correlation between the tested seven quantitative traits and one body mass trait was all positive, all reaching an extremely significant level (P <0.01). [Results] The body mass trait of the shellfish at the instar of 2 had the highest correlation coefficient with shell length (0. 922), that is, shell length had the greatest direct impact on the body mass trait; the path coefficient was 0.700; and the final multiple regression equation established was BM - -124.882 + 1.189SL + 1.551 SH+1.035SW + 0.119NL, and the total determination coefficient (ß2) on body mass was 0.849. The body mass trait of the shellfish at the instar of 0. 6 had the highest correlation coefficient with shell length (0. 859), that is, shell length had the greatest direct impact on the body mass trait; the path coefficient was 0.494; and the final multiple regression equation established was BM = -1.917 + 0.111SL +0.021 NL +0.078SW + 0.0320S, and the total determination coefficient (ß2) on body mass was 0. 828. The multivariate regression variance analysis showed that the regression between the morphological traits and body mass trait of the L. sieboldii at the instars of 2 and 0. 6 reached an extremely significant level (P <0. 01). [Conclusions] This study provides a scientific basis for the selection of broodstock in the selection and breeding of L. sieboldii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]