P5024 Investigating the molecular regulation and control of spawning performance in domesticated Penaeus monodon broodstock

The Giant Tiger Prawn, Penaeus monodon, represents an important global food resource, however captive rearing and domestication remains problematic as significant reproductive performance issues exist within selectively bred stocks. Although production from captive reared populations has been successful, nauplii production has not yet reached a level where it can sustain aquaculture demand; thus wild-type stocks are the industries preferred source of seedstock. Previous work has established that current broodstock conditioning practices do not appear to be negatively impacting the reproductive performance of male stocks; however requirements for high performance female conditioning remain unknown. To better understand the mechanisms governing spawning performance in female P. monodon broodstock, we used Illumina RNA-seq to examine the differential gene expression profile of ovarian tissue across multiple spawning events. Analyses of the variations in spawning performance with particular emphasis on gene pathways related to lipid metabolism and regulatory control of prostaglandins, lipid compounds with significant hormone like control of maturation and ooctye development will be discussed.