Growth performance of the pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera L. 1758) under different culture systems in Dungonab Bay, Sudan, Red Sea

Pinctada margaritifera is naturally occurring in Dungonab Bay and its adjacent areas. Its growth was studied for an annual cycle, from January to December 2010 in hanging, bottom and ground culturing systems as well as from the wild oysters. The asymptotic shell highest (H∞) was 27.59, 9.55 and 7.77 cm in the hanging, bottom and ground system, respectively. In the wild it was 27.59 cm. The growth Index Ф was 4.39, 3.97 and 3.94 in the hanging, bottom and ground system, respectively. In the wild it was 3.66. The average heights shell increment was 0.80, 0.62 in April and 0.48 cm in March in the hanging, bottom and ground system, respectively. The lowest shell increment was 0.00, 0.09 in August and 0.21cm in the ground, bottom and the hanging system, respectively. The linear plot of H (t +∆t) against Ht, for hanging, bottom, and ground culture system as well as and wild oysters yielded very highly significant correlation (p