Correlation and path analysis of quantitative traits of different-age Chlamys farreri

According to supply strategies for the parent selection during the breeding ofChlamys farreri, the relationship between the morphological characters and wet weight was studied using age one(324 individuals)and age two (230 individuals) which came from the same mix family. The traits included the shell length (x₁/cm), shell height (x₂/cm), shell width (x₃/cm) and wet weight (y/g). The result showed that the correlation coefficients between shell character and the wet weight were all very significantly different. The shell length and shell height showed the greatest correlation coefficients to the wet weight of age one and age two (0.939 and 0.808) respectively. The result of the path coefficient analysis showed that the shell length and shell height also showed the highest correlation coefficients to the wet weight and gave predominant direct effect and determinacy on the wet weight for scallop of age one (0.532) and age two (0.451) respectively. The results of the determinant coefficients were consistent with the results of the path analysis. The shell height and shell length showed the lowest correlation coefficients to the wet weight of age one (0.163) and age two (0.191). The multiple regression equations were obtained to estimate wet weight as age one:y=–10.527+0.287x₁+0.087x₂+0.409x₃,R²=0.926; age two:y=–68.609+0.254x₁+0.719x₂+2.008x₃,R²=0.830. This paper provides theoretical basis and perfect measures for the selection of the parents scallop in the breeding.