Photo: Yuzhu Mussel Courtesy of the interviewee
Xinmin Evening News (reporter Gao Yang) A few days ago, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced 11 new aquatic varieties approved by the National Aquatic Origin and Fine Seed Approval Committee, and the freshwater pearl mussel "Shenzhe No. 3" cultivated by Shanghai Ocean University, Jinhua Zhejiang Star Pearl Trading Co., Ltd. and Wuyi Weimin Aquaculture Co., Ltd. was listed among them.
Spinnaker mussel "Shenzhe No. 3" is based on the wild population of spinnaker mussels in Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake, with weight and shell width as the target traits, and is selected and bred for 4 consecutive generations. Compared with the control mussels, the weight and shell width of the mussels increased significantly, and the weight of seedless pearls or nucleated pearls produced by single mussels increased by more than 20%, which is suitable for breeding in artificially controllable water bodies in the main freshwater pearl culture production areas in China. Because of its large pearl size and good breeding efficiency, it is welcomed by the majority of pearl farmers and also meets the needs of consumers for large-size freshwater pearls.
The reporter learned that the spinnaker mussel "Shenzhe No. 3" is the third national freshwater pearl mussel new variety cultivated by Shanghai Ocean University after the cultivation of "Kangle Mussel" in 2006 and the "Shenzi No. 1" in 2017, and it is also the 13th national aquatic new variety mainly cultivated by the university.
The university's freshwater pearl mussel germplasm resource innovation team undertook a series of important research projects such as pearl oyster breeding project and national fund of the Blue Granary Project. The team gave full play to the advantages of the agricultural industry technology system, and through the aquatic technology promotion network in the main production areas, established a freshwater pearl mussel "fine seed" + "multiplication-push-plus" freshwater pearl quality improvement and efficiency promotion and application system, actively promoted the high-quality development of the freshwater pearl industry, and helped rural revitalization.