Avaliação genética de características morfométricas em tilápias do Nilo cultivadas

Breeding values, the differences in responses to selection, the (co)variance components and genetic parameters of the morphometrics traits of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) reared in cages were estimated. Morphometric and performance traits of 1824 animals were analyzed. The estimated heritability ranged from 0,08541 to 0,194 and the proportion of the variation due common environ-mental/hatchery and nursery effects ranged from 0,07402 to 0,1586 and 0,00087 to 0,079, respectively. The values of genetic correlations and ranking indicated a strong association between genetic traits. The largest genetic gains were for weight and daily weight gain, and the best response to indirect selection was checked for weight. Selection for growth rate led to genetic gain in morphometric traits.