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A review on the “in vitro” culture of freshwater mussels (Unionoida)

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Abstract

Many Unionoida are considered to be extinct, endangered, or of special concern. These bivalves have complex life cycle stages that limit successful culture. In nature, the larvae (glochidia) of these bivalves must successfully parasitize a host (mainly fish) in order to metamorphose into juveniles. The two artificial methods used to obtain juvenile freshwater mussels in laboratory are either by induced attachment to host fish or by in vitro culture of glochidia. This article is focused on the in vitro method that represents a novel and alternative process to fish infestation, offering the ability to obtain larger numbers of juveniles without the need for host fishes and reducing the overall costs of propagation. In vitro culture requires a medium which fulfills the nutritional needs of each glochidia species and avoids microbial contamination. Recently, this methodology has presented excellent results with survival and transformation rates up to 94% using host fish plasma. High efficiencies on growth, and survival rates (84%) of juvenile freshwater bivalve Hyriopsis myersiana (Lea, 1856) up to 120 days were obtained when reared in adequate recirculating aquacultural systems using a very specific diet. More research is still needed to demonstrate successful propagation, mainly concerning the media nutritional composition to increase glochidia transformation and juvenile quality.

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  1. Departamento de Produção Aquática, ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Lg. Prof. Abel Salazar, no 2, 4099-003, Porto, Portugal

    Paula Lima, Manuel Lopes Lima & Jorge Machado

  2. CIIMAR - Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marítima e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal

    Manuel Lopes Lima & Jorge Machado

  3. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Uthaiwan Kovitvadhi

  4. Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rajabhat Bansomdejchaopraya University, Bangkok, 10600, Thailand

    Satit Kovitvadhi

  5. Division of Aquaculture, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, USA

    Christopher Owen

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  1. Paula Lima
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Lima, P., Lima, M.L., Kovitvadhi, U. et al. A review on the “in vitro” culture of freshwater mussels (Unionoida). Hydrobiologia 691, 21–33 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1078-0

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