EFFECT OF ULTRASONIC SOUND ON BREEDING PERFORMANMCE OF Puntius sarana (Ham)

Abstracts :

The effect of ultrasonic sound on breeding performance of Puntius sarana (Ham), a commercially important freshwater fish of India was studied. In this study one set of experiment of P.sarana was exposed to ultrasonic emission using Telenet Fish Grower after inducing it with Ovaprim @ 1 ml/kg body weight of fish while another set of experiment was made ready as control. The increased spawning response, fertilization rate and survivality were observed periodically.

Key word: Puntius sarana (Ham), Induced breeding, Ultrasonic Emission.

Introduction :

Puntius sarana locally known as Sar Punti is widely distributed fish found in India, Pakistan, China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and further East. P.sarana is a freshwater fish common in pond and rivers. Like many commercially important indigenous fish species P. sarana also needs urgent attention from conservation angles, as the population of this commercially important species is reported to be drastic decline (Biswas et al, 1995; Borah et al 1999). Artificial propagation of seed of this commercially important fish species was done by Borah et al 1999 using Ovaprim as an inducing agent. In practice it was observed that the quantity of seed produced in the first spawning (early season) significantly differs to the seed produced in the mid of late season. It was observed that the seed produced in the first spawning always performs better compare to latter in respect of survivality, growth rate and disease resistance (Biswas et al 2006). In order to commercialize the culture of P. sarana seed production technique should be standardized. Biswas et al 2006 reported that the ultrasonic sound induces in fish the physiological processes in a much better manner than it caused by injection of Pituitary Gland/ Synthetic Hormone and it has a synergistic effect when applied along with inducing agent on fish breeding and maturation. Based on this suggestion the present experiment was undertaken to optimize the breeding performance of P. sarana using ultrasonic emission.

Materials and Methods :

Induced Breeding Technique:

Selection of brooders was made as per conventional methods of brooder selection of Indian Major Carp. Brooders were kept separately on hapa under shower for 4 to 5 hours for conditioning. At 5 p.m. brooders of P. sarana were injected with Ovaprim @ 1 ml/kg body weight to both male (10 nos in each set of experiment) and female (5 nos in each set of experiment) peritonially with the help of 2 ml syringe and 26 No needle with needle guard. After injection both the sexes were transferred to nylon hapa with mop as the eggs are adhesive in nature (Borah et al 1999). A shower was maintained to create a natural rainy condition as well as to avoid the depletion of dissolve oxygen content. A parallel set was also maintained as a control.

Exposure to Ultrasonic Emission:

All the fishes of the experimental set up (except control) were subjected to continuous exposure to ultrasonic sound since they were kept in nylon hapa after injection. One pair of Telenet Fish Grower (an electronic device, cylindrical in look with one end conical, 16/17 inches length, 1.7/2.0 inches diameter embedded inside the cylinder and operated by 2x1.5 volts D-cell batteries) was placed in the cistern where the experimental set was kept after injection in such a manner that the fishes were continuously exposed to the regular and unceasing emission of ultrasonic sound.

Spawning Response, Fertilization, Development and Hatching:

Fertilization and hatching rates were estimated based on 100 placed in 500 ml beaker. Hatching rate was determined as the percentage of eggs hatched from the fertilized eggs.

Physico – Chemical Parameters of Water:

Physico – chemical parameters were studied during breeding period following Standard Method (APHA, 1985)

Table-1: Comparison of breeding performance of P. sarana using Ultrasonic emission.

Table – 2: Water Quality Parameters and Weather Conditions as observed at the time of Experiment.

Results and Discussions :

The results in detail are given in Table-1. In case of experimental set (exposed to ultra sound emission) 80% spawning response was reported, where as in control set only 60% spawning success was observed. In spite of having much lower average weight of female brooder (71 g) than control (100 g) the experimental set perform better in respect of spawning. The fertilization percentage was much higher in experimental set (92%) than control (61%). Spawn survivality was reported 90% in experimental set and 80% in case of control the water quality parameter observed during breeding was mentioned in Table- 2. Biswas et al, 2006 reported that the breeding efficiency of IMC fishes increased to a significant level when ultrasonic sound is used. Higher spawning success, fertilization rate, maturation of fishes (IMC and Magur) under the exposure of ultrasonic emission were also reported. The present study was made on P. sarana and it was established that definitely there is a positive effect of ultrasound on P. sarana maturation, spawning, fertilization and survivality of spawn. Ultrasonic sound induce the physiology of fishes in a much better manner while breeding and it has a synergistic effect when applied along with some inducing agent on fish during breeding and maturation.

From the above findings it can be concluded that breeding efficiency of a fish can be increased to a significant level using ultrasonic emission and further work in this field is needed to understand the process of physiological changes during ultrasound exposure on fish and to establish it for the propagation to economically important fishes as well as the fishes which are under threat of extinction.

Acknowledgement :

The authors are thankful to the Directorate / Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal for providing necessary infrastructure for this study. Further thanks to the farm-staff and the laboratory staff of the Freshwater Fisheries Research Station, Kulia, Kalyani, Nadia who whole-heartedly extended all sorts of assistance and support in this study.

References:

• Biswas S.P., Borbora S.H., and Dutta B.C., 1995. Bull. Life Sciences 5: 31-40
• Borah B.C., Bhagowati A.K., Biswas S.P., 1999. Journal Inland Fish. Soc. India 31(1): 13-17
• Biswas S.N., Basu D., Roy, A., Ghosh S.,2006 Fishing Chimes 25(10): 163-166
• APHA, 1985. Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water 16 Ea, APHA, AWWA, WPCF, Washington DC.