Macro-geographical differences influenced by family-based expression on cultured pearl grade, shape and colour in the black-lip "pearl oyster" Pinctada margaritifera: a preliminary bi-local case study in French Polynesia

Type Article
Date 2017-01
Language English
Author(s) Ky Chin-Long1, Blay Carole1, Aiho Vaite2, Cabral Philippe3, Le Moullac GillesORCID1, Lo Cedrik4
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, Ctr Pacific, UMR EIO241, BP 7004, Taravao 98719, Tahiti, Fr Polynesia.
2 : Tahaa Archipel Soc, Love Here Pearl Farm, Tahaa, Fr Polynesia.
3 : Rangiroa Archipel Tuamotu, Gauguins Pearl Farm, Tuamotus, Fr Polynesia.
4 : Direct Ressources Marines & Minieres, Tahiti, Fr Polynesia.
Source Aquaculture Research (1355-557X) (Wiley-blackwell), 2017-01 , Vol. 48 , N. 1 , P. 270-282
DOI 10.1111/are.12880
WOS© Times Cited 10
Keyword(s) Pinctada margaritifera, cultured pearl quality, grow-out location, environment
Abstract In French Polynesia, the aquaculture of P. margaritifera is carried out in numerous grow-out sites, located over three archipelagos (Gambier, Society and Tuamotu). To evaluate the impact of macro-geographical effects of these growing sites on pearl quality traits, five hatcheries produced families were used as homogeneous donor oysters in an experimental graft. The molluscs were then reared in two commercial locations: Tahaa island (Society) and Rangiroa atoll (Tuamotu). At harvest, eight pearl quality traits were recorded and compared: surface defects, lustre, grade, circles, shape categories, darkness level, body and secondary colour and visual colour categories. Overall inter-site comparison revealed that: 1) all traits were affected by grow-out location except for lustre and round shape, and 2) a higher mean rate of valuable pearls was produced in Rangiroa. Indeed, for pearl grade, Rangiroa showed twice as many A-B and less reject samples than Tahaa. This was related to the number of surface defects (grade component): in Rangiroa, twice as many pearls had no defects and less pearls had up to 10 defects. Concerning pearl shape, more circled and baroque pearls were found in Tahaa (+10%). For colour variation, 10% more pearls have an attractive green overtone in Rangiroa than in Tahaa, where more grey bodycolor were harvested. Lustre does not seem to be affected by these two culture site (except at a family scale). This is the first time P. margaritifera donor family have been shown to vary in the quality of pearls they produce depending on their grow-out location.
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Ky Chin-Long, Blay Carole, Aiho Vaite, Cabral Philippe, Le Moullac Gilles, Lo Cedrik (2017). Macro-geographical differences influenced by family-based expression on cultured pearl grade, shape and colour in the black-lip "pearl oyster" Pinctada margaritifera: a preliminary bi-local case study in French Polynesia. Aquaculture Research, 48(1), 270-282. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1111/are.12880 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00276/38687/