Research theme
Fish & shrimp
Breeding programs for aquacultureWith Manit Genetics, Betagro and fisheries scientists, the team improves growth and disease resistance, and studies performance under low salinity, in tilapia, hybrid catfish, snakeskin gourami, giant river prawn and Pacific white shrimp.
Highlights
- Streptococcus resistance in Nile tilapia
- Two generations of snakeskin gourami selection
- Shrimp growth under low salinity
Key numbers
- journal articles
- 21
- conference papers
- 10
- research projects
- 5
- graduate theses
- 8
- partner organizations
- 3
- years of published work
- 2009–2025
What the group asks
How heritable are growth and survival in farmed fish and shellfish?
Genetic parameters for growth, body shape, survival and reproduction in Nile tilapia, catfish, snakeskin gourami, giant freshwater prawn, black tiger shrimp and Pacific white shrimp.
Do selection programs deliver from one generation to the next?
Responses to mass, family and individual selection in snakeskin gourami and North African catfish, selection for Streptococcus agalactiae resistance in tilapia, and resistance to infectious myonecrosis in an SPF shrimp program.
Do the best families stay best in different environments?
Genotype-by-environment interaction for tilapia harvest weight, catfish growth, and shrimp growth and survival under normal and low salinity.
What do hybrids, strains and immunity genes add?
Parental strains and heterosis in hybrid catfish, growth and genetic diversity of Asian sea bass strains, immunity traits in bighead catfish, and an alpha-2-macroglobulin gene in giant freshwater prawn.
Methods named in this theme's titles: Genetic parameters & animal models (18) · Survival & longevity (3) · Genotype × environment & climate (3) · Disease resistance & udder health (3) · Crossbreeding & heterosis (2) · Candidate genes & markers (2) · Selection signatures & diversity (1)
Journal papers (21)
- 2025
Responses of family and individual selection on growth of snakeskin gourami (Trichopodus pectoralis) across two generations
Onprang Sutthakiet, Thanathip Suwanasopee, Skorn Koonawootrittriron, Uthairat Na-Nakorn, Satid Chatchaiphan
Aquaculture 609: 742793
- 2025
Genotype-by-environment interactions for the growth and survival of Litopenaeus vannamei under normal and low-salinity environments
Jeffrey Prochaska, Supawadee Poompuang, Skorn Koonawootrittriron, Sila Sukhavachana, Uthairat Na-Nakorn
Aquaculture 596: 741806
- 2024
Optimizing growth and production efficiency of snakeskin gourami (Trichopodus pectoralis) through intensive cage culture: Impacts of culturing season and sex
Onprang Sutthakiet, Thanathip Suwanasopee, Uthairat Na-Nakorn, Skorn Koonawootrittriron
Agriculture and Natural Resources 58(5)
- 2022
Evaluation of a commercial SPF Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp breeding program: Resistance to infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV), Taura syndrome virus (TSV), and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) from laboratory challenges
Jeffrey Prochaska, Supawadee Poompuang, Skorn Koonawootrittriron, Sila Sukhavachana, Uthairat Na-Nakorn
Aquaculture 554
- 2022
Heritability and genotype-by-environment interaction for harvest weight of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, fed with fish meal- and non-fish meal-based diets
Nissara Kitcharoen, Puncharat Meekaew, Skorn Koonawootrittriron
Journal of Fisheries and Environment 46(3)
- 2020
Selection response and genetic parameters for growth in North African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)
Witsanu Srimai, Skorn Koonawootrittriron, Prapaiphan Chaivichoo, Wiroon Manee-aphai, Anake Phu-onnim, Urai Koolboon, Uthairat Na-Nakorn
Aquaculture 518: 735208
- 2020
Genetic components of growth traits of the hybrid between ♂ North African catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822) and ♀ bighead catfish (C. macrocephalus Günther, 1864)
Prapaiphan Chaivichoo, Skorn Koonawootrittriron, Satid Chatchaiphan, Witsanu Srimai, Uthairat Na-Nakorn
Aquaculture 521: 735082
- 2020
Heritability and genetic correlation of body shape and deformity in snakeskin gourami, Trichopodus pectoralis Regan, 1910
Onprang Sutthakiet, Skorn Koonawootrittriron, Sila Sukhavachana, Satid Chatchaiphan, Chatchai Thaitungchin, Uthairat Na-Nakorn
Aquaculture 523: 735208
Conference papers (10)
- 2024
The variation of body composition in market-sized of snakeskin gourami (Trichopodus pectoralis) and its impact on consumer preferences · The 12th National Animal Science Conference
- 2020
Genetic parameter for body weight of the juvenile giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) raised under Thai environmental conditions · The 17th National Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Conference
- 2012
Estimation of heritability and genetic trend of female body length in Giant Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Mann 1879) by using BLUP methodology · Genetic Improvement of Livestock and Aquatic Animals in the Tropics: Challenge and Reward (GILAAT)
- 2012
Estimation of genetic parameters for growth and survival rate of the Black Tiger Shrimp Penaeus monodon · Genetic Improvement of Livestock and Aquatic Animals in the Tropics: Challenge and Reward (GILAAT)
- 2012
Molecular characterization and expression analysis of a cDNA Encoding Novel α-2 Macroglobulin gene in Giant Fresh Water Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) · Genetic Improvement of Livestock and Aquatic Animals in the Tropics: Challenge and Reward (GILAAT)
- 2012
Genetic parameters for size at harvest of the Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei in Thailand · Genetic Improvement of Livestock and Aquatic Animals in the Tropics: Challenge and Reward (GILAAT)
- 2012
Heritability and genetic trend analysis on selection of female body length in giant river prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man 1879) by using BLUP methodology · Genetics in Aquaculture XI
- 2011
Estimation of genetic parameters for body weight and size at harvest of the Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) using mixed model · The 9th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (9AFAF) of the Asian Fisheries Society (AFS)
- 2009
Heritability for growth traits in giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man, 1879) · The 10th International Symposium on Genetics in Aquaculture
- —
Basic knowledge for genetic improvement of giant freshwater prawn: a study on heritability of growth at 2 months of age · RJG – Ph.D. Congress
Research projects (5)
- 2016Evaluation of body shape and fillet traits for Sea Bass (Lates calcarifer) raised under pond and cage culture environmentsFunder: KURDIPrincipal investigator
- 2014Family selection of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) for resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila and Streptococcus agalactiaeFunder: KURDICo-investigator
- 2014Estimating genetic parameters for resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila and Streptococcus agalactiae in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)Funder: KURDICo-investigator
- 2014–2016Selective breeding to enhance streptococcosis resistance in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)Funder: KURDICo-investigator
- 2013Genetic improvement of freshwater prawn by selection and genetic markersFunder: NSTDACo-investigator
Graduate theses (8)
2025Ph.D.
Genetic improvement for economically important traits of snakeskin gourami (Trichopodus pectoralis)
Onprang Sutthakiet
2023Ph.D.
Genetic improvement of clariid catfishes genome-wide association study in clarias macrocephalus and genetic characterization of its hybrid with clarias gariepinus
Prapaiphan Chaivichoo
2021M.S.
Genetic analysis for body weight and survival of giant freshwater prawn (macrobrachium rosenbergii)
Rangsrid Chaicharim
2019M.S.
Estimation of genetic parameters and selection response for streptococcosis resistance in nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Wasana Suebsong
2018Ph.D.
Quantitative genetic parameters for early growth traits and body shape variability in Asian Sea Bass (Lates calcarifer Bloch, 1790)
Suthajaree Yenmak
2018M.S.
Growth performance and genetic diversity of hatchery stocks of asian sea Bass, lates calcarifer (Block, 1790)
Weerakit Joerakate
2016Ph.D.
Molecular characterization and express analysis of complementary DNA (cDNAs) encoding potentially immune-related genes in giant freshwater (Macrobrachium rosenbergii de man 1879)
Wirot Likittrakulwong
2011M.S.
Estimation of genetic parameters for weight and body size of pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)
Yoottana Kanchanachai
Who the work is done with
Thailand
Catfish genetic improvement research (four co-authored papers, 2018–2020) and lectures.
Manit Genetics (opens in a new tab)
Thailand · 2017
Genetic improvement of Nile tilapia and catfish, including disease resistance.
Akvaforsk Genetics Center (opens in a new tab)
Norway
Co-authored a 2019 tilapia disease-resistance study with Manit Genetics.
Partner on research, or study with TAGU
For partners
Propose a joint research project, a co-authored study, a student exchange or a talk.
Start a research conversationFor students
Study for a master's or Ph.D. in animal breeding and genetics at Kasetsart University.
How to join TAGU