• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.169-174
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• 2000

Reproductive cycle of U. unicinctus was studied from September 1998 to August 1999, using gonadosomatic index (CSI) as an indicator. In November, the CSI values were maximum for male (6.2) and female (7.0), respectively; the values were lowest for them (1.0 and 0.5) during the successive february. Subsequently, they rapidly increased and attained peak by March-April. The values decreased again in both sexes and remained unchanged until August. The index increased in October to attain the peak by November. The CSI values clearly indicated that there are two spawning events in a year, namely the first one during April-May and the second one in December. Reproductive cycle was classified into the following successive stages: in female, multipication (January~February, June ~Setember), maturation (March~April, November), spent (May and December), degeneration and resting (June and January), and in male, multiplication January ~ february, June ~September), maturation (March~April, October~November), spent (May and December) and degeneration and resting (January and June). Histological observations revealed that oocytes in the ovary matured simultaneously in November and March. At the same time, the envelopes of matured testis became thinner than those in the early stage.