INTERGENERIC HYBRIDIZATION IN SPARIDAE .1. SPARUS-AURATA FEMALE X DIPLODUS-PUNTAZZO MALE AND SPARUS-AURATA FEMALE X DIPLODUS-VULGARIS MALE

Eggs of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) were inseminated by the sperm of sharp-snout sea bream (Diplodus puntazzo) and common two-banded sea bream (Diplodus vulgaris). Under controlled conditions, at 19.5°C, embryogenesis and yolk sac resorption in both intergeneric combinations took less time than embryogenesis and yolk sac resorption in Sparus aurata. Survival and growth of larvae of Sparus aurata, Sparus aurata ♀ ×Diplodus puntazzo ♂ and Sparus aurata ♀ ×Diplodus vulgaris ♂ were established during yolk sac resorption. During the active feeding period, between days 6 and 30 after hatching, neither growth nor survival differed significantly among the studied species and crosses. Sparus aurata ♀ ×Diplodus puntazzo ♂ larvae grew slightly but not significantly faster. © 1990.