Impact of early and late maturation on the reproductive performance broodstocks of Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)

Abstract This study investigates the reproductive viability of Russian sturgeon ( Acipenser gueldenstaedtii ) in aquaculture settings, focusing on the impact of maturation timing on breeding success and reproductive performance. Hormone-induced spawning was employed, and gamete quality was evaluated to compare two distinct maturation groups: Early-Maturing (EM, 10 + years) and Late-Maturing (LM, 20 + years). Both groups received identical hormone doses for induced spawning. However, the LM group demonstrated significantly lower spawning capability, achieving only 50.24% fertilization success compared to 85.09% in the EM group. Similarly, the hatching rate in the LM group averaged 40.4%, while the EM group achieved a markedly higher rate of 78.55%. Gamete quality also varied between the groups. The LM group exhibited larger egg diameters (3.58 mm) but lower relative fecundity/kg BW (950 eggs/kg), whereas the EM group had smaller egg diameters (2.97 mm) but significantly higher relative fecundity/kg BW (1210 eggs/kg). This study highlights the importance of considering maturation timing in sturgeon breeding and underscores the need for further research to fully understand the reproductive dynamics associated with maturation timing. Thus, broodstock management will contribute to farms producing more efficiently and economically.