Influence of Selective Breeding on Olive Flounder Egg Quality and Larvae Growth Performance

This study investigated the effects of a selective breeding program on olive flounder egg quality and larvae growth. Two broodstock groups were utilized: a selective breeding group (experimental) and a standard fish farm group (control). Three egg types were produced: selected broodstock artificially fertilized eggs (SBAFE), selected broodstock naturally spawned eggs (SBNSE), and fish farm broodstock naturally spawned eggs (FFNSE). Egg size analysis revealed significant differences, with SBAFE eggs exhibiting the largest average diameter (929±26μm), followed by SBNSE eggs (923±22μm), and FFNSE eggs showing the smallest (891±28μm). All eggs were hatched and reared under commercial conditions in Seogwipo from March to December 2023. The experimental group derived from SBAFE demonstrated superior growth performance, reaching an average weight of (1,192.6±157g) compared to (1,006.1±98g) in the control group (FFNSE), a difference of 18.9%. These findings suggest that genetic diversity and selective breeding in the experimental group led to larger eggs, enhancing the growth of the larvae. The larger egg size, especially in artificially fertilized broodstock, likely provided a developmental advantage for faster growth.