• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.572-576
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• 2020

As grouper aquaculture production intensifies worldwide, hybrids are increasingly produced to induce heterosis of traits such as rapid growth and strong environmental adaptability. In this study, we compared the morphological characteristics of a hybrid grouper to those of its parent species Epinephelus moara and E. lanceolatus. The coefficients of external and skeletal traits evaluated using soft X-rays did not differ significantly among groups; however, several patterns were detected among measured traits. The body depth (BD), length of caudal peduncle (LCP), and pre-anal fin length (PAL) of the hybrid were the same as those of E. moara, whereas the pre-pectoral fin length (PPL) and interorbital width (IOW) of the hybrid were the same as those of E. lanceolatus. Traits that did not differ significantly among the three groups included pre-dorsal fin length (PDL), pre-ventral fin length (PVL), length of anal fin (LAF), and length of dorsal fin (LDF), whereas the depth of caudal peduncle (DCP) and snout length (SNL) showed intermediate traits, and eye diameter (ED) was significantly smaller in the hybrid. Therefore, intermediate traits such as DCP and SNL and specific traits such as ED may be used as indices for hybrid classification.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.557-562
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• 2020

As part of an effort to establish of novel grouper hybrids for the aquaculture industry, we compared the embryonic development of fertilized eggs of giant grouper Epinephelus lanceolatus ♀×kelp grouper E. bruneus ♂ (GGKG) and giant grouper ♀×red-spotted grouper E. akaara ♂ (GGRG) with a maternal purebred (giant grouper ♀×♂, GG) at 27-29℃. The hatching rates were lower in GGKG (2.59%) and GGRG (0.36%) than in GG (12.29%). The hatching times were considerably longer in the two hybrids than in GG (22 h), which were similar between GGKG (28 h 30 min) and GGRG (28 h). The total lengths of yolk-absorbed larvae of GGKG (2.546±0.132 mm) and GGRG (2.602±0.093 mm) were similar to that of GG (2.565±0.149 mm). The deformity rates of hatched larvae (64.29-75.00%) did not differ between the two hybrids and GG. Although the hatching and deformity rates of GGKG and GGRG were inferior to those of GG, the possibility of mass production of the two hybrids larvae was demonstrated in this study.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.850-860
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• 2023

The effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharides, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis supplementation on hybrid grouper Epinephelus akaara ♀×Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂ were evaluated. The fish were fed a basal diet and five other diets consisting of 0.6% mannan oligosaccharides, L. plantarum, B. subtilis, and B. licheniformis and mixture of each 0.15% prebiotic and all the probiotics (designated as MOS, LP, BS, BL, and SYN) for 56 days. Growth performance and feed utilization showed no significant differences among all experimental groups. Lipid level of whole-body was significantly high in MOS and BL groups. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase was significantly low in BL and SYN groups. Nitro-blue tetrazolium, lysozyme and anti-protease, and glutathione peroxidase in BS, SYN, and all probiotic groups, respectively, were significantly high. Intestinal Vibrio bacteria was significantly low in all probiotic and SYN groups. Gene expression of interleukin-1β and interleukin-10 in SYN group; transforming growth factor β2 in MOS and BS groups, toll-like receptor 2-2 in BS and BL groups; and C-type lectin in MOS, LP and SYN groups were significantly upregulated. Our findings indicate that mannan oligosaccharides, L. plantarum, B. subtilis, and B. licheniformis could improve innate immunity, antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammation, and intestinal microbiota of hybrid grouper.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.70-73
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• 2014

Interspecific hybrids between tiger grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus and giant grouper E. lanceolatus were genetically identified based on the partial sequence analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COX I) gene and nuclear recombination activating gene 2 (RAG 2) gene. Out of 585 base positions of RAG 2, a total of five nucleotide substitutions were detected between the two parental species (E. fuscoguttatus and E. lanceolatus). The hybrids had two distinct types of RAG 2 sequences corresponding to those of both parental species. Mitochondrial COX I gene sequencing showed that hybrids had sequences identical to E. fuscoguttatus. Molecular data clearly demonstrate that hybridization does occur between E. fuscoguttatus and E. lanceolatus, but with E. fuscoguttatus as the maternal parent.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.346-355
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• 2024

Groupers are economically important species in the fishery and aquaculture industries in Asian countries. Various species of grouper, including hybrids, have been brought to market even without precise species identification. In this study, we analyzed the structure and expression profile of the gene encoding prolactin (PRL) in the red-spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara based on genomic DNA and cDNA templates. The results showed that the PRL gene consists of five exons encoding an open reading frame of 212 amino acids, including a putative signal peptide of 24 amino acids and a mature structural protein of 188 amino acids. It showed amino acid identities of 99% with Epinephelus coioides, 83% with Amphiprion melanopus, 82% with Acanthopagrus schlegelii, 75% with Oreochromis niloticus, 70% with Coregonus autumnalis, and 67% with Oncorhynchus mykiss, indicating its closer similarity to E. coioides and other groupers but marked distinction from non-teleost PRLs. PRL mRNA expression was detected mostly in the brain, including the pituitary gland, with little expression in other tissues. While the 5-exon structure of the PRL gene of red-spotted grouper and the exon sizes were conserved, the sizes of the introns, particularly the first intron, were markedly different among the grouper species. To examine whether these differences can be used to distinguish groupers of similar phenotypes, exon-primed intron-crossing analysis was carried out for various commercially important grouper species. The results showed clear differences in size of the amplified fragment encompassing the first intron of the PRL gene, indicating that this method could be used to develop species-specific markers capable of discriminating between grouper species and their hybrids at the molecular level.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.499-505
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• 2020

We investigated growth, survival and stress response depending on salinity changes in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀×E. polyphekadion ♂, BCG) juvenile. Experiment I (Exp I), the hybrids were stocked at 32 psu and reared for 30 days under decreasing salinity at a rate of 5-7 psu per day (25, 20, 15, 10, 5 psu). Experiment II (Exp II), the salinity was decreased from 32 psu to 5 psu during a period of 24, 48 and 72 h. Experiment III (Exp III), acclimatized BCGs were exposed from 5 psu to decreasing salinity at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 psu. In the Exp I, 90% survival only in the 5 psu. Growth were 5 and 32 psu had significantly low growth than other treatment. In the Exp II 100% survived by the end of the experiment. The plasma cortisol level was highest in the treatment the salinity rapidly dropped, but all the treatment recovered quickly after 24 h of salinity reduction. In the Exp III, the lower the salinity, the faster the mortality occurred in salinity below 5 psu. It is therefore concluded that the BCGs are highly tolerant of low salinity and the salinity tolerance threshold is 5 psu.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2018

We examined the effect of salinity and water temperature on hatching and survival rates of fertilized eggs of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ ${\times}$ E. lanceolatus ♂) at different developmental stages, determining optimal conditions for their long-distance transportation. Deformities and hatching rates of fertilized grouper eggs were observed at salinities of 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, and 39 psu. The optimal salinity was determined to be 36 psu, with a survival rate of $70.0{\pm}2.0%$. Transportation experiments at 36 psu were conducted at water temperatures of 21, 24, 27, and $30^{\circ}C$, different developmental stages such as morula, 5-myomere, and tail beating for hatching and survival rates. The optimal water temperature and developmental stage for transporatation were $30^{\circ}C$ and tail beating stage and those hatching rates were $50.6{\pm}1.9%$ and $86.3{\pm}1.3%$, respectively. At $21^{\circ}C$, the survival rate by transportation water temperature was highest ($73.1{\pm}10.6%$), but the hatching rate ($17.1{\pm}3.1%$) was lowest. Therefore, the hybrid grouper fertilized eggs (E. fuscoguttatus ♀ ${\times}$ E. lanceolatus ♂) can be most efficiently produced under long-distance transportation conditions during the tail beating stage and at a water temperature of $30^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.97-110
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• 2024

The Serranidae is high-quality fish species with good meat quality and is traded at high price, and is attracting attention in South Korea as a cultured species that creates high added value. However, the high-density fish farming for mass production increases the risk of mass mortality due to infectious diseases, leading to enormous economic losses. Therefore, in order to safely prevent and protect farmed fish from serious infectious diseases, it is necessary to conduct disease monitoring on a regular basis. In this study, Hyporthodus septemfasciatus, Epinephelus moara, and the hybrid longtooth grouper (E. moara ♀×E. lanceolatus ♂) were collected once a month from fish farm of Garorim and Aquabiotech Co., Ltd for a total of six months, from July to December 2023. We investigated infections of five species of bacterial diseases, including Flavobacterium columnare, six species of viral diseases, including LCDV (lymphocystis disease virus), and parasitic pathogens in grouper farms. As the result, Vibrio vulnificus and V. harveyi were detected in H. septemfasciatus in August, in the case of viral diseases, NNV was detected in H. septemfasciatus from July to August using RT-PCR or PCR. Finally, In the case of parasitic diseases, Tricodina sp. was detected in E. moara and the hybrid longtooth grouper from August to December.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.566-571
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• 2020

To classify a presumed hybrid of imported grouper species acquired from the National Fishery Products Quality Management Service, maternal and paternal lines were identified based on partial sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (co1) and nuclear recombination activation gene 1 (rag1) genes. The matrilineal species was identified as Epinephleus moara by a partial (760 bp) co1 sequence. Ambiguous sequences with base pairs belonging to E. moara or E. lanceolatus were found in a total of 15 different base pairs in the partial 1,159 bp of the rag1 gene, and the patrilineal species was found to be E. lanceolatus. Therefore, all of the groupers examined in the study were identified to be hybrids of E. moara and E. lanceolatus. In addition, a fast and convenient method using random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was established for hybrid discrimination. Hybrids between E. moara ♀ and E. lanceolatus ♂ were identified through specific bands of 387 bp and 433 bp in PRIMER 6.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2022

The profer salinity range for aquaculture of hybrid grouper (Epinephleus bruneus♀ × Epinephleus lanceolatus♂) were evaluated in terms of their survival, growth, feed intake and physiological responses after 30 days of exposure to different salinities (0 psu, 3 psu, 5 psu, 10 psu, 15 psu, 20 psu, 25 psu, 30 psu). Hybrid grouper all died at 0 psu salinity on the 4th day of exposure but all hybrid survived at a salinity of 5 psu or higher during the exposure period. Body length and weight increased above 5 psu salinity and the growth rate was the highest at 30 psu. Hybrid exposed to 3 psu did not eat the feed pellet. Feed intake did not show a significant difference between salinity 20 psu, 25 psu and 30 psu. Plasma osmolality of the juvenile hybrids exposed to different salinities was 341~368 mg Osmol/kg above 5 psu. The oxygen consumption rate was the highest at 30 psu with 163.6±22.3 mg O₂/kg fish/h. SOD, CAT and GSH-PX were significantly higher at 15 psu. Therefore, the critical salinity for survive of the juvenile hybrid was 5 psu, and the proper salinity for optimal culture was analyzed with 20~30 psu.