ABOUT JAYANTI ROHU

Selective breeding of rohu has been initiated for the first time in India by ICAR-CIFAin collaboration with Institute of Aquaculture Research (AKVAFORSK), Norway to genetically improve rohu for higher growth.Rohu (Labeo rohita) has been chosen as the candidate species for selective breeding as its consumer preference is very high and also it appears to grow slower than other Indian Major carps in multispecies carp culture system. Base population for the selective breeding of rohu was initiated with from five riverine sources i.e. Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Sutlej, Gomati and ICAR-CIFA stock was added as sixth stock. Through combined selection method selective breeding was performed. It has shown genetic gain of 18 % per generation for growth trait after nine generations of selective breeding. Improved rohu was tested in different agro-climatic regions of India i.e., Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. In the all the field testing centres improved rohu showed superior growth efficiency over control and local hatchery stocks. The improved rohu is popularly known as “Jayanti” as it was first released in the 50 years of India's independence. (sources : CIFA)