EVALUATION OF VELVET BEAN (MUCUNA PRURIENS) AS ANDROGENIC AGENT FOR PRODUCTION OF MONOSEX NILE TILAPIA, (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS)

• F.O. Alao

  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

  Author

• O.A. Bello-Olusoji

  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

  Author

• O. Fagbenro

  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

  Author

• O.K. Gbadamosi

  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

  Author

Fish farmers are confronted with serious challenges in raising tilapia to table size because of their precocious maturity and the following uncontrolled reproduction leading to stunted growth and low commercial value. This study was conducted to assess the potentials of Velvet bean, Mucuna pruriens seed as androgenic agent for the production of monosex Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. An experiment was set-up for 90days to evaluate the efficacy of M. pruriens in the masculinization of tilapia to solve this challenge. A total number of 225 O. niloticus fry were stocked in 15 tanks, there were 5 treatments and each treatment was in triplicate. Five experimental diets containing 35% crude protein was formulated and designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 with (0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00) g inclusion level of M. pruriens seed powder respectively per 100g of basal feed. Results showed that there were significant better growth performance (p>0.05) with T5 having the highest weight gain, specific growth rate, best feed conversion ratio and highest percentage of male. The plant however can be used as androgenic agent for the production of monosex Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus.

1. F.O. Alao, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

2. O.A. Bello-Olusoji, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

3. O. Fagbenro, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

4. O.K. Gbadamosi, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

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