• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.314-320
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• 2021

In the present study, we investigated the effect of photoperiod and water temperature on the gonadosomatic index (GSI), histological stage of the testes, and plasma levels of sex steroid (testosterone, T; 11-ketotestosterone, 11-KT) hormones in cultured male small yellow croakers (Larimichthys polyactis). In a photoperiod experiment, small yellow croakers were reared under a natural photoperiod (NP, 10L:14D-11L:13D), long photoperiod (LP, 14L:10D), and short photoperiod (SP, 10L:14D) at 17℃ for 90 days. The GSI was significantly higher in the LP group than in the other groups at 30 and 60 days. The plasma 11-KT levels were significantly higher in the LP group than in the other groups at 30 days. In a water temperature experiment, small yellow croakers were reared under natural water temperature (NT, 19.1-15.0℃), or at 17℃, 21℃, or 25℃ under a LP (14L:10D) for 60 days. The GSI was significantly lower for the 25℃ group than for the other groups at 30 and 60 days. The plasma 11-KT levels were significantly lower for the 25℃ group than for the other groups at 60 days. Therefore, the sexual maturation of cultured male yellow croakers was promoted by LP and inhibited at water temperatures above 25℃. These findings suggest that the sexual maturation of cultured male small yellow croakers is controlled by both the photoperiod and the water temperature.