Path analysis between partial growth-related traits of wild large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) in different geographical populations

Morphological traits reflect the diversity of different geographic populations of large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea), so the morphological traits of L. crocea selected on the basis of different geographic populations are also slightly different. In order to provide references of phenotypic traits for the breeding of L. crocea and the selection of seedlings during artificial proliferation and release, we collected wild L. crocea from three locations (Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province; Xiamen, Fujian Province; Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province), measured their total length, body length, body height as well as caudal stalk height, as well as conducted correlation analysis, path analysis and multiple stepwise regression analysis. The coefficient of variation in body mass ranged from 17.44% to 19.79% among the three L. crocea populations. There was an extremely significant correlation among all the phenotypic traits (P<0.01). The phenotypic traits which played a major role in the populations of Zhanjiang, Xiamen and Zhoushan were 2 (Body length, body height), 3 (Total length, body length, body height), and 2 (Total length, body length), respectively. The multiple correlation coefficients (R) of phenotypic traits with significant effects on body mass for Zhanjiang, Xiamen and Zhoushan populations were 0.962, 0.915 and 0.964, respectively. After eliminating morphological traits with insignificant coefficients to body mass, we established the multiple regression equation by multiple regression analysis. The morphological traits retained by the multiple regression analysis were consistent with those identified by path analysis.